22 Safety & Infection Control Practice Questions & Answers
Every Safety & Infection Control practice question from the CNA Practice Test, with the correct answer and a short explanation.
Start practice test →1. The nurse aide performs hand hygiene right after removing gloves. Which link in the chain of infection does this action MOST directly break?
- A.The susceptible host, because clean hands raise the client's resistance to illness
- B.The mode of transmission, because the hands no longer carry organisms to another client✓ Answer
- C.The reservoir, because washing destroys the organisms living inside the infected client
- D.The portal of entry, because the soap seals the broken skin where organisms enter
Contaminated hands are the vehicle that carries organisms from one person or surface to the next, so hand hygiene breaks the chain at the mode of transmission. Gloves do not replace it: hand hygiene is done before gloves are put on and again after they come off.
Source: CDC Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings; CDC Standard PrecautionsReport a problem with this question
2. For which clients does the nurse aide use Standard Precautions?
- A.All clients at every contact, whatever the diagnosis or known infection status✓ Answer
- B.Clients placed on transmission-based precautions by order of the charge nurse
- C.Clients with an infection written in the chart or a positive culture result
- D.Clients showing symptoms such as fever, a new cough, or a draining wound
Standard Precautions treat the blood, all body fluids except sweat, non-intact skin and mucous membranes of every client as potentially infectious, because a person can carry an organism long before it is diagnosed. They are used with all clients at all times, and transmission-based precautions are added on top when a specific organism is known or suspected.
Source: CDC Standard Precautions; 42 CFR 483.80 Infection controlReport a problem with this question
3. A client has diarrhea caused by Clostridioides difficile. Which hand hygiene method MUST the nurse aide use after giving care?
- A.Soap and running water with friction, because alcohol does not kill the spores✓ Answer
- B.Alcohol-based hand rub and then lotion, to keep the skin from drying out
- C.Alcohol-based hand rub, rubbed over every surface until the hands are dry
- D.A germicidal wipe on the hands, then a fresh pair of gloves for the next task
Alcohol-based hand rubs do not kill C. difficile spores; only the friction and rinsing of soap and running water physically remove them from the skin. Soap and water is likewise required whenever the hands are visibly soiled.
Source: CDC guidance on Clostridioides difficile infection control; CDC Hand Hygiene GuidelineReport a problem with this question
4. While lathering at the sink, how SHOULD the nurse aide hold the hands, and for how long?
- A.Fingertips pointed down, hands below the elbows, lathering at least 20 seconds✓ Answer
- B.Fingertips pointed up, hands above the elbows, lathering at least 10 seconds
- C.Hands flat under the stream, wrists above the elbows, lathering about 5 seconds
- D.Fingertips pointed down, forearms resting in the basin, lathering about 15 seconds
Keeping the fingertips down and the hands below the elbows makes the dirty water run off the fingertips into the sink instead of back over clean forearms, and at least 20 seconds of friction is needed to loosen and rinse organisms away. The hands never touch the inside of the sink.
Source: CDC Hand Hygiene Guideline; Credentia NNAAP Skill: Hand Hygiene (Hand Washing)Report a problem with this question
5. After rinsing and drying the hands, how does the nurse aide turn off the faucet?
- A.By pressing the handle with an elbow while the forearm rests on the sink
- B.With the damp towel that dried the hands, which is dropped into the sink
- C.With a clean, dry paper towel placed between the hand and the handle✓ Answer
- D.By gripping the handle with bare fingers, since the hands are now clean
The faucet handle was touched with contaminated hands before washing, so it is still dirty; a clean, dry paper towel used as a barrier keeps the just-washed hands from being recontaminated. A knee or foot control may be used where the sink has one.
Source: Credentia NNAAP Skill: Hand Hygiene (Hand Washing); CDC Hand Hygiene GuidelineReport a problem with this question
6. A client with active pulmonary tuberculosis is admitted. Which precautions does the nurse aide follow?
- A.Droplet precautions: a surgical mask within about 3 feet of the client and the door left open
- B.Standard precautions alone, since tuberculosis spreads through contact with blood
- C.Contact precautions: a gown and gloves at every entry and equipment kept in the room
- D.Airborne precautions: a fit-tested N95 respirator and a negative-pressure room with the door closed✓ Answer
Tuberculosis spreads on tiny droplet nuclei that stay suspended and travel on air currents, so it calls for airborne precautions: a fit-tested N95 respirator, an airborne infection isolation (negative-pressure) room, and the door kept closed. A surgical mask does not filter these particles.
Source: CDC Transmission-Based Precautions (Airborne Precautions)Report a problem with this question
7. A client on droplet precautions for influenza must be taken to another department. What SHOULD the nurse aide do?
- A.Put an N95 respirator on the client and cover the wheelchair with a clean sheet
- B.Have the client wear a gown and gloves and walk down the middle of the hall
- C.Put a surgical mask on the client before leaving the room and explain the reason✓ Answer
- D.Ask the other department to clear the hallway so that no mask will be needed
Influenza travels in large respiratory droplets over a short distance, so during transport the source is controlled by having the client wear a surgical mask; staff wear the mask when working close to the client in the room. Explaining the reason keeps the client from feeling singled out.
Source: CDC Transmission-Based Precautions (Droplet Precautions)Report a problem with this question
8. In which order does the nurse aide put on personal protective equipment before entering an isolation room?
- A.Goggles, gloves, gown, then mask, protecting the face before the body
- B.Gown, mask, goggles, then gloves pulled over the cuffs of the gown✓ Answer
- C.Mask, gloves, gown, then goggles, tying the gown at the neck and waist last
- D.Gloves, gown, mask, then goggles, so the hands are covered from the start
Gowning first and gloving last lets the glove cuffs be pulled over the gown sleeves so no skin or clothing is left exposed at the wrist, and the mask and eye protection are handled while the hands are still clean.
Source: CDC Sequence for Donning Personal Protective EquipmentReport a problem with this question
9. Which sequence does the nurse aide use to take off personal protective equipment, and why?
- A.Mask, gown, goggles, then gloves, because the mask holds the most contamination
- B.Goggles, mask, gloves, then gown, because the face must be uncovered the soonest
- C.Gloves, goggles, gown, then mask, because the gloves are the most contaminated✓ Answer
- D.Gown, gloves, mask, then goggles, because the gown protects the uniform longest
The gloves have touched the client and contaminated surfaces, so they come off first before they can spread organisms to the face, hair or clothing; the mask or respirator comes off last and outside the room, handled by its ties or elastics, because the room air may still be contaminated. Hand hygiene follows at once.
Source: CDC Sequence for Removing Personal Protective EquipmentReport a problem with this question
10. The nurse aide has finished perineal care and will now help the same client put on a clean shirt. What SHOULD the nurse aide do?
- A.Remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, and then help the client dress✓ Answer
- B.Keep the same gloves on, since the care is for the same client in one room
- C.Wipe the gloves with an alcohol wipe and keep them on for the clean task
- D.Take the gloves off and put on a new pair without washing the hands first
Gloves are changed when moving from a dirty task to a clean task on the same client, and always between clients, or organisms from perineal care are carried onto clean skin and clothing. Gloves cannot be washed or disinfected for reuse, and hand hygiene follows every glove removal.
Source: CDC Standard Precautions (glove use)Report a problem with this question
11. The nurse aide removes used bed sheets that have no blood or body fluids on them. What SHOULD the nurse aide do with them?
- A.Set them on the floor by the bed until the room is finished, then take them out to the hallway
- B.Place them in a red biohazard bag, because every used bed sheet counts as infectious waste
- C.Roll them with the soiled side in, hold them away from the uniform, and put them in the soiled linen container✓ Answer
- D.Shake them out to loosen the crumbs, fold them neatly, and carry them against the chest to the laundry cart
Rolling linen with the soiled side inward and holding it away from the body keeps organisms off the aide's uniform, and shaking linen throws skin scales and organisms into the air. Linen with no blood or body fluids belongs in the ordinary soiled linen container, never on the floor or in a biohazard bag.
Source: 42 CFR 483.80 Infection control (handling of linens); CDC Standard PrecautionsReport a problem with this question
12. The nurse aide removes a dressing that is soaked with blood. Where does the used dressing go?
- A.In the bathroom wastebasket, wrapped inside a folded paper bag
- B.In the soiled linen container, along with the client's used sheets
- C.In the biohazard container, because it is contaminated with blood✓ Answer
- D.In the sharps container, which is closed and puncture resistant
An item saturated with blood or other potentially infectious material is regulated waste and goes into a closable, leak-proof container that is labeled or color-coded for biohazard. Hand hygiene is performed both before and after a dressing change.
Source: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)Report a problem with this question
13. The nurse aide discovers a small fire in a client's room. What SHOULD the nurse aide do FIRST?
- A.Close the window and the door so the fire cannot spread further
- B.Pull the fire alarm in the corridor and wait there for the team
- C.Get the extinguisher from the hall and aim it at the flames
- D.Move the client out of the room and away from immediate danger✓ Answer
RACE puts Rescue first because life safety comes before property: people in immediate danger are moved out, then the alarm is activated, then doors and windows are closed to confine the fire, and only then is a small fire extinguished or the area evacuated.
Source: Standard RACE fire response (Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish); 42 CFR 483.90(a) Life safety from fireReport a problem with this question
14. The nurse aide is using a fire extinguisher on a small waste-can fire. Where is the spray aimed?
- A.At the smoke above the fire, holding the nozzle steady until clear
- B.At the wall behind the fire, letting the spray fall on the flames
- C.At the top of the flames, moving the nozzle slowly up and down
- D.At the base of the fire, sweeping the nozzle from side to side✓ Answer
PASS stands for Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep from side to side. The agent has to reach the burning fuel at the base; spraying the flames or the smoke leaves the fuel burning.
Source: NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers (PASS technique)Report a problem with this question
15. A client receiving oxygen through a nasal cannula says the tubing hurts the ears. What SHOULD the nurse aide do?
- A.Check the ears for pressure points and report the complaint to the nurse✓ Answer
- B.Take the cannula off for a few minutes so that the ears can rest between uses
- C.Wrap the tubing with tape and lay it higher across the client's cheeks
- D.Turn the oxygen flow rate down until the client feels more comfortable
Checking the skin behind the ears and over the cheekbones for pressure from the tubing and reporting the complaint are within the nurse aide's role, while changing the oxygen flow rate is not: the flow rate is ordered by the physician and adjusted by the nurse, and damaged tubing is replaced rather than taped.
Source: 42 CFR 483.152(b) nurse aide training content (scope of practice); NNAAP Content Outline Basic Nursing SkillsReport a problem with this question
16. A client starts to fall while the nurse aide is walking with him in the hall. What SHOULD the nurse aide do?
- A.Hold him upright under the arms until the weak spell passes
- B.Ease him to the floor while protecting his head, then call for help✓ Answer
- C.Step away quickly so that his falling weight does not pull the aide down too
- D.Pull him by the gait belt toward the nearest chair in the hall
Trying to hold a falling adult upright injures both people, so the aide widens the base of support, keeps the client close, protects the head and lets the body slide down the aide's leg to the floor, then stays with the client and calls for help. A client who has fallen is not moved or walked back to bed until the nurse has checked him.
Source: NNAAP Content Outline Basic Nursing Skills (Safety/Prevention/Emergency)Report a problem with this question
17. While eating, a client suddenly cannot speak, cough, or breathe. What SHOULD the nurse aide do FIRST?
- A.Give abdominal thrusts, because the airway is completely blocked✓ Answer
- B.Leave the room to find the nurse and come back to check on the client
- C.Offer sips of water to wash the food down the client's throat
- D.Pat the back gently and wait for the client to start coughing
Inability to speak, cough or breathe means the airway is completely obstructed, and abdominal thrusts are the response taught in the federally required nurse aide curriculum. The aide calls out for help but never leaves the choking client; if the client becomes unresponsive, the aide lowers him to the floor, calls for help and begins CPR.
Source: 42 CFR 483.152(b)(3) nurse aide training: safety/emergency procedures including the Heimlich maneuverReport a problem with this question
18. What is the ONLY acceptable reason for a nursing facility to use a physical restraint on a client?
- A.To keep a confused client quiet at night so the other clients on the unit can sleep
- B.To protect the safety of the client or others when less restrictive measures have failed✓ Answer
- C.To make care easier on a shift when the unit is short of staff and aides work alone
- D.To discipline a client who has been verbally abusive toward the nursing staff
Federal law gives the client the right to be free from any physical or chemical restraint imposed for discipline or staff convenience; a restraint may be used only to protect safety, must be the least restrictive alternative for the shortest time, and requires a physician's order. Alternatives such as closer supervision, bed or chair alarms, activity and toileting are tried first.
Source: 42 CFR 483.12(a)(2) — right to be free from restraints imposed for discipline or convenienceReport a problem with this question
19. A restraint has been ordered by the physician and applied. How does the nurse aide monitor the client?
- A.Check at meal times and release the restraint every 4 hours for range of motion
- B.Check at least every 15 minutes and release the restraint every 2 hours for repositioning✓ Answer
- C.Check about once an hour and release the restraint at the end of the shift for a bath
- D.Check every 30 minutes and leave the restraint in place until the family comes to visit
Frequent checks catch the circulation, breathing and skin problems a restraint can cause, and releasing it at least every 2 hours allows repositioning, toileting, fluids and range of motion. The restraint is secured to the movable part of the bed frame with a quick-release knot, never to a side rail, which moves and can trap the client.
Source: 42 CFR 483.12 restraints; CMS State Operations Manual Appendix PP guidance on restraint monitoringReport a problem with this question
20. When transferring a client from the bed to a wheelchair, which part of the aide's body SHOULD carry most of the weight?
- A.The wrists and hands, gripping the client under the armpits
- B.The arms and shoulders, which steer and steady the client during the turn
- C.The lower back, braced by leaning backward during the lift
- D.The legs, the strongest muscles, which keep the load off the back✓ Answer
The leg muscles are the largest and strongest in the body, so the aide bends the knees and hips, keeps the back straight and head in line with the spine, and rises by straightening the legs. Lifting with the back or twisting the trunk instead of pivoting the feet is the leading cause of caregiver back injury.
Source: NNAAP Content Outline Basic Nursing Skills; OSHA Guidelines for Nursing Homes: Safe Patient HandlingReport a problem with this question
21. The nurse aide must move a heavy, loaded linen cart down the hallway. Which action uses correct body mechanics?
- A.Pull the cart while walking backward and twisting at the waist to watch the path
- B.Drag the cart with one arm while carrying a supply bag in the other
- C.Push the cart with the feet apart, the knees bent, and the back straight✓ Answer
- D.Lift the front of the cart over the door frame in one quick motion
Pushing, sliding or rolling a load uses body weight instead of back muscles, and feet apart with bent knees and a straight back gives a wide base of support and a low center of gravity. For the same reason the aide raises the bed to waist height before bedside care and lowers it again afterward.
Source: OSHA Guidelines for Nursing Homes: Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal DisordersReport a problem with this question
22. How does the nurse aide apply and hold a transfer (gait) belt before helping a client stand up?
- A.Snug at the hips under the clothing, held by the buckle with one hand
- B.Snug at the waist over clothing, grasped from underneath on both sides✓ Answer
- C.Snug around the chest over the gown, grasped with both palms turned down
- D.Loose at the waist against bare skin, held with one hand at the back
The belt goes over clothing so it does not rub bare skin, and it is snug at the waist so it cannot ride up over the ribs; an upward grasp on both sides gives a secure hold on a client who sags. Non-skid footwear is on and the feet are flat on the floor before standing, and the aide walks slightly behind and to one side of the client.
Source: Credentia NNAAP Skill: Transfer from Bed to Wheelchair Using Transfer BeltReport a problem with this question
Practice questions based on the NNAAP written content outline. Not affiliated with Credentia/Pearson VUE or any state nurse-aide registry, and not medical advice. Requirements vary by state. About CNA testing →