NCLEX Infection Prevention and Control Exam Questions and Answers

160 Questions and Answers

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Infection prevention and control are critical components of nursing practice, directly impacting patient safety and healthcare outcomes. This NCLEX Infection Prevention and Control Exam Questions and Answers resource is designed to help you master the essential principles, protocols, and clinical decision-making skills necessary to prevent the spread of infection in diverse healthcare settings.

Aligned with current nursing guidelines and best practices, this exam preparation tool focuses on key topics such as hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE), standard precautions, transmission-based precautions (contact, droplet, airborne), and safe handling of equipment and specimens. You’ll gain a solid understanding of infection control procedures that protect both patients and healthcare providers from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

Through scenario-based practice questions, this resource helps you apply your knowledge in real-life nursing situations. You’ll be challenged to identify breaches in infection control, prioritize nursing interventions, and select appropriate responses based on the mode of transmission and the patient’s clinical status. These application-level questions build the critical thinking skills needed to succeed on the NCLEX and in clinical practice.

Topics also include surgical asepsis vs. medical asepsis, sterile field maintenance, environmental cleaning, immunization protocols, outbreak response, multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and infection surveillance. You’ll also review documentation, patient education strategies, and collaboration with infection control teams.

Designed for nursing students preparing for the NCLEX and professionals reinforcing essential competencies, this study tool strengthens your understanding of core infection control measures. It emphasizes safety, accountability, and evidence-based care—critical areas that are frequently tested on the exam and vital for daily nursing practice.

With this targeted review, you’ll feel more confident managing infection risks, promoting safe environments, and upholding the highest standards of patient care.

Sample Questions and Answers

  1. Which of the following is the primary goal of infection control?
    • A) To treat the infection
    • B) To prevent the spread of infectious diseases
    • C) To diagnose infectious diseases
    • D) To provide antimicrobial therapy
    • Answer: B) To prevent the spread of infectious diseases
  2. When should healthcare workers perform hand hygiene?
    • A) Only after touching a patient
    • B) After touching any surface in the patient’s room
    • C) Before and after patient contact, and after touching contaminated surfaces
    • D) Only after using the restroom
    • Answer: C) Before and after patient contact, and after touching contaminated surfaces
  3. What is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare settings?
    • A) Hand hygiene
    • B) Wearing gloves
    • C) Wearing a face mask
    • D) Administering antibiotics
    • Answer: A) Hand hygiene
  4. Which of the following personal protective equipment (PPE) is required for airborne precautions?
    • A) N95 respirator
    • B) Surgical mask
    • C) Gown and gloves
    • D) Face shield
    • Answer: A) N95 respirator
  5. Which of the following infections requires contact precautions?
    • A) Influenza
    • B) Tuberculosis
    • C) Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)
    • D) Chickenpox
    • Answer: C) Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)
  6. What should a nurse do when handling contaminated needles?
    • A) Recap the needle before disposal
    • B) Dispose of the needle in a sharps container immediately
    • C) Clean the needle with disinfectant before disposal
    • D) Place the needle in the regular trash
    • Answer: B) Dispose of the needle in a sharps container immediately
  7. What is the primary mode of transmission for hepatitis B virus (HBV)?
    • A) Droplet transmission
    • B) Airborne transmission
    • C) Bloodborne transmission
    • D) Fecal-oral transmission
    • Answer: C) Bloodborne transmission
  8. When is it appropriate for a healthcare worker to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead of soap and water?
    • A) When hands are visibly soiled
    • B) After using the restroom
    • C) Before eating
    • D) When hands are not visibly soiled
    • Answer: D) When hands are not visibly soiled
  9. Which of the following diseases is transmitted through droplet precautions?
    • A) Chickenpox
    • B) Influenza
    • C) Tuberculosis
    • D) C. difficile
    • Answer: B) Influenza
  10. Which of the following is a common sign of a localized infection?
  • A) Fever
  • B) Swelling, redness, and heat at the site of infection
  • C) Increased white blood cell count
  • D) Widespread rash
  • Answer: B) Swelling, redness, and heat at the site of infection
  1. What should be done if a nurse has a cut on their hand while working in a clinical area?
  • A) Ignore the cut and continue working
  • B) Cover the cut with a bandage and gloves
  • C) Disinfect the cut and leave it open to air
  • D) Notify the supervisor and clean the wound immediately
  • Answer: B) Cover the cut with a bandage and gloves
  1. What is the most important step in preventing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria?
  • A) Overuse of antibiotics
  • B) Administering antibiotics for viral infections
  • C) Practicing proper infection control measures
  • D) Using broad-spectrum antibiotics
  • Answer: C) Practicing proper infection control measures
  1. What is the correct sequence of donning personal protective equipment (PPE)?
  • A) Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
  • B) Gown, gloves, mask, goggles
  • C) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
  • D) Mask, gown, gloves, goggles
  • Answer: C) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
  1. What should be done if a nurse notices a patient has signs and symptoms of a healthcare-associated infection (HAI)?
  • A) Continue care as usual and monitor the patient
  • B) Notify the infection control team immediately
  • C) Administer antibiotics without a doctor’s order
  • D) Isolate the patient immediately and avoid informing the physician
  • Answer: B) Notify the infection control team immediately
  1. Which of the following is the most effective way to prevent the transmission of healthcare-associated infections?
  • A) Proper hand hygiene and sterilization of equipment
  • B) Use of antibiotics in all patients
  • C) Limiting the use of PPE
  • D) Minimizing patient contact
  • Answer: A) Proper hand hygiene and sterilization of equipment
  1. What is the incubation period for influenza?
  • A) 1-3 days
  • B) 3-5 days
  • C) 5-7 days
  • D) 7-10 days
  • Answer: A) 1-3 days
  1. When should a healthcare worker wear gloves?
  • A) When performing any type of patient care
  • B) Only when drawing blood
  • C) When touching blood or body fluids, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin
  • D) Only when performing invasive procedures
  • Answer: C) When touching blood or body fluids, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin
  1. Which infection is most commonly associated with indwelling urinary catheters?
  • A) Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • B) Urinary tract infection (UTI)
  • C) Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
  • D) Clostridium difficile
  • Answer: B) Urinary tract infection (UTI)
  1. Which of the following is NOT a standard precaution in infection control?
  • A) Hand hygiene
  • B) Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • C) Patient isolation for all infections
  • D) Safe handling and disposal of needles and sharps
  • Answer: C) Patient isolation for all infections
  1. What is the most common route of transmission for HIV in healthcare settings?
  • A) Airborne transmission
  • B) Contact transmission
  • C) Bloodborne transmission
  • D) Droplet transmission
  • Answer: C) Bloodborne transmission
  1. Which of the following should a nurse do when caring for a patient with a respiratory infection?
  • A) Wear a gown and gloves only
  • B) Wear a mask and gloves only
  • C) Wear a mask and gown only
  • D) Wear a surgical mask and follow standard precautions
  • Answer: D) Wear a surgical mask and follow standard precautions
  1. Which of the following should be done after using an alcohol-based hand rub?
  • A) Rinse hands with water immediately
  • B) Allow the alcohol-based rub to dry completely
  • C) Reapply hand sanitizer several times
  • D) Wash hands with soap and water afterward
  • Answer: B) Allow the alcohol-based rub to dry completely
  1. What is the primary purpose of the aseptic technique?
  • A) To reduce the number of pathogens to a safe level
  • B) To sterilize equipment and surfaces
  • C) To ensure complete elimination of all microorganisms
  • D) To prevent the spread of infectious diseases
  • Answer: A) To reduce the number of pathogens to a safe level
  1. Which of the following infections requires airborne precautions?
  • A) Tuberculosis
  • B) Measles
  • C) Influenza
  • D) COVID-19
  • Answer: A) Tuberculosis
  1. What should a nurse do if they are exposed to a needle stick injury?
  • A) Report the incident to the supervisor immediately
  • B) Ignore the injury and continue working
  • C) Clean the area with alcohol and continue with care
  • D) Wait until the end of the shift to report the injury
  • Answer: A) Report the incident to the supervisor immediately
  1. Which of the following is the most common healthcare-associated infection?
  • A) Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • B) Bloodstream infections
  • C) Respiratory infections
  • D) Surgical site infections (SSIs)
  • Answer: A) Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  1. What is the proper action if a nurse encounters a patient with suspected multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO)?
  • A) Implement isolation precautions immediately
  • B) Discontinue all antibiotic therapy
  • C) Increase patient mobility to improve immunity
  • D) Allow other patients to care for the infected patient
  • Answer: A) Implement isolation precautions immediately
  1. What is the most effective method for preventing the spread of infection in a healthcare setting?
  • A) Use of antibiotics
  • B) Quarantine infected patients
  • C) Strict hand hygiene and PPE use
  • D) Limiting patient visits
  • Answer: C) Strict hand hygiene and PPE use
  1. Which of the following should be done when a nurse is caring for a patient with a viral infection?
  • A) Wear gloves and a gown
  • B) Wear a face shield and gloves
  • C) Use a surgical mask and standard precautions
  • D) Wear a face mask and isolation gown
  • Answer: C) Use a surgical mask and standard precautions
  1. Which of the following precautions should be followed when caring for a patient with a contagious infection?
  • A) Droplet precautions only
  • B) Standard precautions only
  • C) Contact precautions only
  • D) Appropriate precautions based on the infection type
  • Answer: D) Appropriate precautions based on the infection type

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