every client, based on expected exposure
🧼NCLEX-RN STUDY GUIDE
NCLEX-RN Safety and Infection Prevention
Practice precautions, sterile technique, incident response, client identification, restraints, and equipment safety for the 2026 NCLEX-RN test plan.
8 key ideas8 flashcards5 practice questions
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For exam preparation only. Follow current clinical orders, facility policy, and local scope rules in practice.
Start with standard measures, then add the required route layer.
touch and contaminated surfaces
respiratory droplets at close range
small particles requiring respiratory protection
Key ideas to know
Start with the relationships between ideas. Then close the notes and explain each one from memory.
- 01
Standard precautions apply to every client when exposure to blood, body fluids, nonintact skin, or mucous membranes is possible.
- 02
Transmission-based precautions add contact, droplet, or airborne measures according to the organism and route.
- 03
Hand hygiene is performed at required moments and after glove removal.
- 04
Clean technique reduces microorganism transfer, while sterile technique maintains an area free of viable microorganisms.
- 05
Client identity is checked with approved identifiers before medicines, procedures, specimens, and blood products.
- 06
A restraint requires a valid indication, the least restrictive option, monitoring, and compliance with law and policy.
- 07
After an error or exposure, the nurse first addresses the client's immediate condition, then reports and documents according to policy.
- 08
Equipment alarms require assessment of both the client and the equipment rather than automatic silencing.
PART OF THE NCLEX-RN GUIDE
See every set in this course and follow a focused review order.
Open the full NCLEX-RN guide →Two ideas worth correcting now
NOT QUITE
→Gloves replace hand hygiene
USE THIS INSTEAD
Hand hygiene is still required before and after glove use at the indicated moments.
NOT QUITE
→An incident report replaces charting
USE THIS INSTEAD
The clinical record still needs factual documentation of assessment, care, notifications, and client response.
Flashcards
Answer before opening each card. The effort to retrieve is part of the learning.
1When are standard precautions used?Show answer ＋
For every client when exposure to blood, body fluids, nonintact skin, or mucous membranes is possible.
2What is contact precaution equipment commonly based on?Show answer ＋
The anticipated contact with the client or contaminated surfaces, following current policy.
3What is the usual purpose of an N95 respirator?Show answer ＋
Respiratory protection during airborne precautions after required fit testing.
4When must hand hygiene occur after gloves?Show answer ＋
Immediately after glove removal.
5What makes a sterile field contaminated?Show answer ＋
Contact with a nonsterile item, moisture strike-through, loss of view, or breach of the field boundary.
6Which identifiers should not be used alone?Show answer ＋
Room number or physical location.
7What comes first after a medication error?Show answer ＋
Assess the client and address immediate harm before completing reporting steps.
8What should happen when an equipment alarm sounds?Show answer ＋
Assess the client, identify the cause, and correct the problem according to procedure.
Explain it in your own words
Use the answer as a check after you have written or spoken your response.
01A nurse notices a sterile glove touched the bedrail. What should happen?
Treat the glove as contaminated, remove it safely, perform hand hygiene as indicated, and replace it before continuing sterile work.
02Why is an incident report kept separate from the clinical record?
The clinical record documents the client's condition and care, while the report is used through the facility's safety process.
03A client keeps pulling at tubing. What should the nurse try before restraint?
Assess the cause and use less restrictive options, closer observation, reorientation, comfort measures, or equipment adjustments when suitable.
04Why is hand hygiene required after glove removal?
Gloves can have small defects, and hands can become contaminated during removal.
05A pump alarm sounds while the client appears distressed. What has priority?
Assess the client first while stopping or correcting unsafe delivery according to the situation and calling for help when needed.
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