A nurse is preparing to administer a patients scheduled dose of subcutaneous heparin. To reduce the risk of needlestick injury, the nurse should perform what action?
- A. Recap the needle before leaving the bedside.
- B. Recap the needle immediately before leaving the room.
- C. Avoid recapping the needle before disposing of it.
- D. Wear gloves when administering the injection.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Avoiding needle recapping prevents needlestick injuries. Used needles should be placed directly into puncture-resistant containers. Gloves do not prevent needlesticks.
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An older adult patient tells the nurse that she had chicken pox as a child and is eager to be vaccinated against shingles. What should the nurse teach the patient about this vaccine?
- A. Vaccination against shingles is contraindicated in patients over the age of 80.
- B. Vaccination can reduce her risk of shingles by approximately 50%.
- C. Vaccination against shingles involves a series of three injections over the course of 6 months.
- D. Vaccination against shingles is only effective if preceded by a childhood varicella vaccination.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Zostavax reduces shingles risk by about 50% in adults over 60. It is a single injection, not contraindicated by age, and effective regardless of prior varicella vaccination.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). What infection control measure has the greatest potential to reduce transmission of MRSA and other nosocomial pathogens in a health care setting?
- A. Using antibacterial soap when bathing patients with MRSA
- B. Conducting culture surveys on a regularly scheduled basis
- C. Performing hand hygiene before and after contact with every patient
- D. Using aseptic housekeeping practices for environmental cleaning
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the most effective measure to prevent MRSA and nosocomial pathogen transmission. Antibacterial soap, culture surveys, and housekeeping are less impactful.
The nurse is caring for a patient with secondary syphilis. What intervention should the nurse institute when caring for this patient?
- A. Ensure that the patient is housed in a private room.
- B. Administer hydrocortisone ointment to the lesions as ordered.
- C. Administer combination therapy with antiretrovirals as ordered.
- D. Wear gloves if contact with lesions is possible.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Secondary syphilis lesions are highly infectious, requiring gloves for contact. Private rooms, hydrocortisone, and antiretrovirals are not indicated.
The nurse educator is discussing emerging diseases with a group of nurses. The educator should cite what causes of emerging diseases? Select all that apply.
- A. Progressive weakening of human immune systems
- B. Use of extended-spectrum antibiotics
- C. Population movements
- D. Increased global travel
- E. Globalization of food supplies
Correct Answer: B,C,D,E
Rationale: Emerging diseases are driven by antibiotic resistance, population movements, global travel, and food globalization. Generalized immune weakening is not a primary cause.
Family members are caring for a patient with HIV in the patients home. What should the nurse encourage family members to do to reduce the risk of infection transmission?
- A. Use caution when shaving the patient.
- B. Use separate dishes for the patient.
- C. Use separate bed linens for the patient.
- D. Disinfect the patients bedclothes regularly.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Caution during shaving prevents exposure to HIV via blood. Separate dishes, linens, or disinfection are unnecessary unless blood contamination occurs.
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