NCLEX-RN Safety and Infection Control Practice Test (100+ Questions)

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Imagine walking into a patient’s room to find them in distress—or perhaps responding to a fire alarm on your unit. In these moments, hesitation isn’t an option. Safety and Infection Control is the backbone of nursing practice. It’s not just about memorizing protocols; it’s about protecting your patients from harm and protecting yourself from injury.

On the NCLEX-RN, this topic is a high-yield powerhouse. While Management of Care might take up the most space on the test plan, “Safety” is where the “Killer Questions” live. These are the questions that can determine a pass or fail because they test your ability to recognize immediate life threats and prevent catastrophic complications like sepsis.

In this guide, we will break down the “Safe and Effective Care Environment” into actionable, clinical wisdom. We will cover everything from sterile technique and isolation protocols to fire safety and restraints, ensuring you are ready to tackle SATA, prioritization, and NGN case studies with confidence.

💡 NCLEX Insight: Safety questions often overlap with every other category. You might see a physiological integrity question (wound care) that asks for the safety intervention (sterile field). Always ask yourself: “Is this question asking me to treat the disease, or prevent a complication?”

Understanding Safety and Infection Control: Your NCLEX Blueprint

Safety and Infection Control falls under the Safe and Effective Care Environment client need. It covers the nurse’s role in protecting clients and healthcare personnel from health and environmental hazards. This ranges from hand hygiene and asepsis to emergency response plans and disaster management.

Exam Weight Visualization – Topic Position

pie showData
    title "Safety and Infection Control on the NCLEX-RN"
    "Safety and Infection Control" : 12
    "Other NCLEX Domains" : 88

While roughly 12% of your exam will be strictly Safety and Infection Control, its actual influence is much higher because safety principles are integrated into questions about Pharmacology, Physiological Integrity, and Psychosocial Integrity.

Topic Structure Visualization – Subtopics

flowchart TD
    %% Define Nodes
    MAIN["🛡️ Safety & Infection Control<br/><small>(NCLEX-RN Focus)</small>"]
    
    MAIN --> ST1["📌 Asepsis & Infection Control<br/><small>High Yield (NGN/SATA)</small>"]
    MAIN --> ST2["📌 Client Safety & Restraints<br/><small>High Yield (Priority)</small>"]
    MAIN --> ST3["📋 Emergency & Disaster Mgmt<br/><small>Medium Yield</small>"]
    MAIN --> ST4["📋 Error Prevention & Reporting<br/><small>Medium Yield</small>"]
    MAIN --> ST5["📄 Ergonomics & Equipment Safety<br/><small>Low Yield</small>"]

    %% Define Styles using Classes
    classDef mainNode fill:#1976D2,color:#fff,stroke:#1565C0,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef highYield fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#4CAF50,stroke-width:2px,color:#1b5e20;
    classDef medYield fill:#fff3e0,stroke:#FF9800,stroke-width:2px,color:#e65100;
    classDef lowYield fill:#f5f5f5,stroke:#9e9e9e,stroke-width:2px,color:#616161;

    %% Apply Styles to Nodes
    class MAIN mainNode;
    class ST1,ST2 highYield;
    class ST3,ST4 medYield;
    class ST5 lowYield;

Key Interpretation:
The diagram above highlights that Asepsis and Client Safety are your primary study targets. These areas are notorious for SATA (Select All That Apply) questions and “Who do you see first?” prioritization scenarios. If you master sterile technique and the legalities of restraints, you will cover the majority of the high-difficulty questions in this domain.

📋 NCLEX Strategy: Focus 60% of your study energy on Asepsis (Clean vs. Sterile) and Isolation Precautions. These concepts are frequently tested in “Bow-tie” and extended drag-and-drop NGN items.

High-Yield Cheat Sheet: Safety at a Glance

Before we dive deep, let’s look at the “Big Four” pillars of this topic. Use this mindmap as your quick reference guide when reviewing practice questions.

mindmap
  root((Safety & Infection))
    Asepsis
      Medical (Clean)
      Surgical (Sterile)
      Breaks in Technique
    Isolation
      Standard
      Contact
      Droplet
      Airborne
    Client Safety
      Restraints (Least Restrictive)
      Falls
      Seizures
      Suicide Precautions
    Emergency
      Fire (RACE/PASS)
      Disasters (Triage)
      Error Reporting

Pillar 1: The “Clean” vs. “Sterile” Dichotomy

Core Concept: Differentiating between reducing microorganisms (Medical Asepsis) and eliminating them entirely (Surgical Asepsis).

• Medical Asepsis (Clean): Hand hygiene, wearing gloves, standard precautions. Goal: Reduce the number and spread of pathogens.
• Surgical Asepsis (Sterile): Procedures like urinary catheterization or inserting central lines. Goal: Eliminate all microorganisms (spores included).
• Exam Relevance: If a sterile field is contaminated (e.g., wet, touched by unsterile object), you must start over. There is no “sort of” sterile.

Pillar 2: Isolation Precautions Protocol

Core Concept: Protecting others by stopping transmission.

• Standard Precautions: Treat all body fluids as infectious. Wear gloves for any potential contact.
• Transmission-Based:
  • Contact: C. diff, MRSA (Touching).
  • Droplet: Flu, Meningitis (Spraying > 3 feet).
  • Airborne: TB, Measles (Floating on dust particles).

Pillar 3: Physical Safety & Restraints

Core Concept: Balancing patient safety with patient rights.

• Restraints: Physical (mitts, belts) or Chemical (meds). Must have a physician’s order (except in emergencies), specify the duration, and be released every 2 hours for range of motion.
• Seizures: Never force anything in the mouth. Turn patient to side (lateral) to protect the airway.

Pillar 4: Environmental & Emergency Management

Core Concept: Protecting the unit from external threats.

• Fire Safety: R.A.C.E. (Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish). Always rescue the person in immediate danger first.
• Disaster Triage: START protocol. Tag patients based on severity: Red (Immediate), Yellow (Delayed), Green (Minor), Black (Expectant/Dead).

How Safety Connects to Other NCLEX Domains

Safety isn’t an island. It connects to every other part of the test plan. Understanding these connections improves your clinical judgment scores because you learn to see the “whole picture” of patient care.

flowchart TD
  subgraph CORE["Safety & Infection Control"]
    A1["Standard Precautions"]
    A2["Isolation Protocols"]
    A3["Restraints/"]
  end

  subgraph RELATED["Connected Domains"]
    D1["Management of Care<br/>(Delegation)"]
    D2["Reduction of Risk Potential<br/>(At-risk populations)"]
    D3["Physiological Integrity<br/>(Wounds/Immune)"]
  end

  A1 -->|"Determines who can perform task"| D1
  A2 -->|"Complicates care for"| D2
  A3 -->|"Prevents infection in"| D3

  style CORE fill:#e3f2fd,stroke:#1976D2
  style RELATED fill:#f5f5f5,stroke:#757575

Why These Connections Matter

• Delegation (Management of Care): You can delegate feeding a Contact precaution patient to a CNA only if the CNA has been trained in PPE. If you delegate without ensuring they know how to don/doff gear, you are responsible for the safety breach.
• At-Risk Populations (Reduction of Risk Potential): A patient on chemotherapy (Physiological Integrity) is neutropenic. This dictates a specific safety intervention: Neutropenic (Reverse) Precautions and restricting fresh plants/flowers.
• Psychosocial Integrity: A patient with severe depression (Psychosocial) requires a specific safety intervention: Suicide Precautions (removing sharps, checking the room).

🎯 NCLEX Strategy: When you see a question about a depressed patient or an immunocompromised patient, immediately shift your brain to “Safety Mode.” Ask, “What is the environmental safety risk here?”

What to Prioritize: Critical vs. Supporting Details

Not all safety topics are created equal. To study efficiently, you must focus on “Critical” concepts that are unsafe if missed.

quadrantChart
    title NCLEX Priority Matrix
    x-axis Low Complexity --> High Complexity
    y-axis Low Yield --> High Yield
    quadrant-1 "Master These (Critical)"
    quadrant-2 "Know Well (Essential)"
    quadrant-3 "Basic Awareness"
    quadrant-4 "Review If Time"
    "Airborne/Droplet/Contact Precautions": [0.25, 0.85]
    "Suicide Precautions": [0.35, 0.90]
    "Seizure Airway Safety": [0.30, 0.95]
    "Restraint Protocols": [0.40, 0.85]
    "Fire Safety (RACE)": [0.20, 0.80]
    "Hand Hygiene": [0.10, 0.70]
    "Sterile Field": [0.60, 0.75]
    "Disaster Triage": [0.50, 0.60]
    "Needle Stick Protocol": [0.25, 0.50]
    "Latex Allergy specifics": [0.80, 0.25]

Priority Table

💡 Strategic Insight: If you are short on time, prioritize the Red Zone. Knowing that C. diff requires Soap and Water (not sanitizer) is more likely to save a life than knowing the exact friction time of a floor cleaner.

Essential Knowledge: Safety Deep Dive

Pillar 1: Asepsis & Infection Control

This is the foundation of nursing. If you break sterile technique, you introduce pathogens directly into a patient’s body.

Key Concepts:

• Medical Asepsis (Clean Technique): Used for daily care, changing linens, and Standard Precautions. The goal is to limit the growth of microorganisms. Hand washing is the #1 intervention.
• Surgical Asepsis (Sterile Technique): Used for invasive procedures (IVs, foley catheters, surgery). The goal is to keep an area free of all microorganisms. If you are unsure if an item is sterile, assume it is not.

Medical vs. Surgical Asepsis Comparison

Exam Focus:

• Sterile Field Breaks: A sterile field is considered contaminated if it gets wet (strikes through), if you turn your back on it (out of sight/out of mind), or if an object falls below the waist level.
• The 1-Inch Border: The outer 1-inch border of a sterile drape/wrap is always contaminated. Nothing sterile can touch it.

💡 Memory Tip: “Surgical is Serious.” If you are doing a sterile procedure and you drop something, or even think you touched something unsterile—throw it away and start over. Never guess.

Pillar 2: Isolation Precautions Protocol

Selecting the wrong PPE puts you, your family, and other patients at risk. This is a must-know area.

Key Concepts:

• Standard Precautions: Used for every patient, every time. Treat blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), non-intact skin, and mucous membranes as infectious.
• Transmission-Based Precautions: Added on top of Standard Precautions.

Transmission-Based Precautions Comparison

Exam Focus:

• N95 vs. Surgical Mask: Airborne requires the N95 respirator. Droplet only requires a surgical mask.
• Transport: If an Airborne patient must leave the room, they must wear a surgical mask to contain pathogens.

💡 Memory Tip: “A C.D. Player” (Airborne, Contact, Droplet). Think of an Airborne virus as “Scary” and “Tiny” (needs N95).

Pillar 3: Physical Safety & Restraints

This topic is heavy on legal and ethical responsibilities. Restraints are a last resort.

Key Concepts:

• Restraint Definition: Any physical (belt, vest, mitts) or chemical (medication) method that restricts a patient’s freedom of movement.
• Least Restrictive: You must try less restrictive measures first (bed alarm, distraction, sitter) before applying restraints.
• Restraint Orders: Must be time-limited (usually 24 hrs for adults, less for behavior health). Requires a face-to-face assessment by a licensed independent practitioner (LIP).
• Release: Must be released at least every 2 hours for range of motion (ROM), toileting, and hydration. Skin integrity checked every 15-30 mins.

Restraints vs. Safety Devices Comparison

Exam Focus:

• Seizure Safety: NEVER put anything in the mouth (tongue blades, padded forceps). Do not restrain the patient during the seizure. Turn to side, protect head, maintain airway.
• Strangulation Risk: Never tie restraints to the side rail. If the rail is lowered, the restraint tightens. Tie to the bed frame.

💡 Memory Tip: “Prone is for bones (X-ray), not for restraints.” Never place a restrained patient face down (prone) due to aspiration and suffocation risk.

Pillar 4: Environmental & Emergency Management

Chaos requires protocol. The NCLEX tests your ability to follow RACE and Triage protocols strictly.

Key Concepts:

• Fire Safety – RACE:
  • Rescue: Anyone in immediate danger.
  • Alarm: Activate the call system/911.
  • Contain: Close doors and windows to stop the draft (starves the fire of oxygen).
  • Extinguish/Evacuate: Use extinguisher only if small and safe to do so.
• Fire Extinguisher – PASS: Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side.
• Disaster Triage – START Protocol:
  • Red (Immediate): Respirations >30, Capillary refill >2 sec, or cannot follow commands.
  • Yellow (Delayed): Can walk, or has minor injuries.
  • Green (Minimal): Walking wounded.
  • Black (Expectant): Dead/Not breathing (and no pulse/airway opening possible).

Exam Focus:

• Evacuation:
  • Horizontal (Ambulatory): Move patients out the door on the same floor.
  • Horizontal (Non-Ambulatory): Move patients on bedsheets/mattresses (if life-threatening).
  • Vertical: Use elevators ONLY if fire department approves (usually never—use stairs).

💡 Memory Tip: “RACE to the PASS” (R.A.C.E. for fire, P.A.S.S. for extinguisher).

Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

⚠️ Pitfall #1: The “Clean” Sterile Field
❌ THE TRAP: Thinking a sterile field is still safe if a sterile object barely brushes the edge of the sterile drape (the 1-inch border).
✅ THE REALITY: The 1-inch border around a sterile drape is ALWAYS considered contaminated. If any sterile object touches it, the object is contaminated.
💡 QUICK FIX: “Borders are Barriers.” Visualize the edge as a cliff; if you fall off the sterile area (the border), you are in the “contamination zone.”

⚠️ Pitfall #2: Prioritizing Isolation Over Life-Safety
❌ THE TRAP: Refusing to enter a room in Airborne or Contact precautions to perform CPR or rescue a patient in distress because “I don’t have the correct PPE on yet.”
✅ THE REALITY: Life safety (ABCs) always trumps infection control. If a patient is coding or the room is on fire, you act immediately to save life/limb, putting on PPE only if it doesn’t delay life-saving intervention.
💡 QUICK FIX: “Dead patients don’t catch infections.” Save the life first, worry about exposure second.

⚠️ Pitfall #3: The “Hold Them Down” Seizure Response
❌ THE TRAP: Inserting a tongue blade or padded tongue depressor during a seizure to prevent airway obstruction.
✅ THE REALITY: NEVER insert anything into the mouth of a seizing patient. It causes injury, broken teeth, and airway obstruction. Turn the patient to the side.
💡 QUICK FIX: “Nothing in the mouth, side to the south (lateral).”

⚠️ Pitfall #4: Restraint Prone Positioning
❌ THE TRAP: Placing a patient in prone position (face down) or tying restraints to the side rails to manage agitation.
✅ THE REALITY: Never restrain a patient prone. It restricts breathing/aspiration risk. Never tie to side rails (if the rails are lowered, the restraints tighten and cause strangulation).
💡 QUICK FIX: “Prone is for bones (X-ray), not for restraints. Tie to the bed frame, not the rail.”

⚠️ Pitfall #5: C. Diff Hand Hygiene
❌ THE TRAP: Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer after caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile.
✅ THE REALITY: Alcohol does NOT kill C. diff spores. You must wash with soap and water.
💡 QUICK FIX: “C. Diff eats Alcohol.” (Spores are resistant; use soap and water).

🎯 Remember: Avoid “medical model” thinking (treating the disease) and use “nursing model” thinking (preventing the complication).

How This Topic Is Tested: NCLEX Question Patterns

📋 Pattern #1: The “Select All That Apply” (SATA) Clean Technique
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: A scenario describing a nurse setting up a sterile field. You must select all actions that maintain sterility.

EXAMPLE STEM:
“The nurse is preparing to insert a Foley catheter. Which of the following actions, if performed by the nurse, indicate a break in sterile technique? Select all that apply.”

SIGNAL WORDS: Select all that apply • Indicate a break in sterile technique • Require intervention

YOUR STRATEGY:

1. Visualize the procedure step-by-step.
2. Look for the “Killers”: Pouring fluid towards you (splash), turning your back on the field, reaching over the field, wet sterile field, touching the 1-inch border.
3. Select every violation.

⚠️ TRAP TO AVOID: Including an action that is “messy” but not necessarily contaminated (e.g., water splashing near the field vs. on the field).

📋 Pattern #2: Prioritization: Who to See First
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: A list of 4 patients. You must determine which patient poses the greatest safety risk.

EXAMPLE STEM:
“The nurse is receiving shift report. Which of the following clients should the nurse assess FIRST?”

SIGNAL WORDS: FIRST • Priority • Best action

YOUR STRATEGY:

1. Use ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation).
2. Check for immediate threats to life (seizure, choking, suicide attempt).
3. Check for safety violations (restraint tied to side rail).

⚠️ TRAP TO AVOID: Choosing the patient with a “medical” issue (pain) over the patient with a “safety” issue (suicide risk). In NCLEX Safety, suicide often trumps pain.

📋 Pattern #3: NGN Bow-Tie (Symptom to Precaution)
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: A patient has a specific diagnosis/symptom, and you must generate the correct precautions or nursing actions.

EXAMPLE STEM:
“A client is admitted with active Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Drag and drop the correct nursing actions for this client.”

SIGNAL WORDS: Generate solutions • Select the appropriate precautions • Matrix

YOUR STRATEGY:

1. Identify the disease -> Identify the transmission (Airborne).
2. Select actions: N95 mask, Negative pressure room, Door closed.
3. Reject distractors: Surgical mask (incorrect), Positive pressure (incorrect), Open door (incorrect).

⚠️ TRAP TO AVOID: Mixing up Airborne (N95) and Droplet (Surgical mask). TB always requires N95.

📋 Pattern #4: Ordered Response (Sequencing)
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: Steps of a procedure must be put in the correct chronological order.

EXAMPLE STEM:
“The nurse is preparing to don personal protective equipment (PPE) to enter the room of a client on Contact Precautions. Order the steps the nurse should take.”

SIGNAL WORDS: Order the steps • Sequence

YOUR STRATEGY:

1. Donning: Gown -> Mask -> Goggles -> Gloves.
2. Doffing: Gloves -> Goggles -> Gown -> Mask (Hand hygiene immediately after removing gloves).

⚠️ TRAP TO AVOID: Removing the gown before the gloves (touching clean neck/face with contaminated gloves). “Dirtiest comes off first.”

🎯 Pattern Recognition Tip: If the question asks for a “sequence” of PPE, always picture yourself getting dressed (Cleanest items first) and then undressing (Dirtiest items removed first).

Key Terms You Must Know

Red Flag Answers: What’s Almost Always Wrong

Use this list to eliminate incorrect answer choices quickly.

Myth-Busters: Common Misconceptions

❌ Myth #1: “Airborne precautions require a positive pressure room.”
✅ THE TRUTH: Airborne precautions require a NEGATIVE pressure room. Air is drawn into the room to prevent pathogens from escaping into the hallway. Positive pressure is for immunocompromised patients (Reverse Isolation) to keep pathogens out.
📝 EXAM IMPACT: Selecting the wrong room type puts the public and other patients at risk, leading to a failed question.

❌ Myth #2: “If a patient has a prescription for restraints, I don’t need to check them often.”
✅ THE TRUTH: Restraints require frequent monitoring regardless of the order. You must check circulation, skin integrity, and needs for hydration/toileting at least every 15-30 minutes and offer release/ROM every 2 hours.
📝 EXAM IMPACT: Failing to identify the need for assessment and release leads to answers suggesting negligence.

❌ Myth #3: “I should double-glove for all isolation patients.”
✅ THE TRUTH: Double-gloving is not a standard part of isolation precautions. It is used in specific procedures (e.g., surgery, trauma) where puncture risk is high. For standard Contact/Droplet/Airborne, a single pair of gloves changed appropriately is sufficient.
📝 EXAM IMPACT: Selecting “double glove” as a priority action over “hand hygiene” is a distraction.

❌ Myth #4: “Alcohol hand rub is effective against C. Diff.”
✅ THE TRUTH: Alcohol does NOT kill C. Diff spores. Soap and water mechanical friction is required to physically remove the spores.
📝 EXAM IMPACT: In a SATA question about C. diff care, selecting alcohol rub is an incorrect option that will likely be present as a distractor.

❌ Myth #5: “If a fire alarm sounds, I must evacuate all patients immediately.”
✅ THE TRUTH: You follow RACE. You rescue those in immediate danger, then contain the fire. Horizontal evacuation (moving to another smoke zone) is preferred over vertical (down stairs) unless the building is compromised.
📝 EXAM IMPACT: Prioritization questions will test your ability to stay calm and follow protocol (Contain) rather than creating chaos by moving unstable patients unnecessarily.

💡 Bottom Line: NCLEX questions test evidence-based practice, not “what I saw on a TV show” or “what we used to do 20 years ago.” Trust the protocols.

Apply Your Knowledge: Clinical Scenarios

Scenario #1: The Spill
Situation: A nurse accidentally drops a bottle of medication on the floor. The liquid splashes onto their face and into their eyes. The medication is not hazardous but is a caustic irritant.

Clinical Judgment Prompt:

• Assessment: Check eyes for redness/pain.
• Intervention: Flush eyes with water/irrigation solution immediately for at least 15 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing.
• Reporting: Complete an incident report.

Key Principle: Immediate flushing takes priority over documentation. Time is tissue.

Scenario #2: The Confused Wanderer
Situation: An 82-year-old patient with dementia is trying to get out of bed repeatedly. They have fallen twice in the last week.

Clinical Judgment Prompt:

• Assessment: Why are they getting up? (Pain, toileting, confusion).
• Intervention: Try least restrictive measures first (Bed alarm, chair alarm, toileting schedule, sitter).
• Final Action: If these fail and the patient is at high risk of harm, obtain a physician order for restraints (mitts) and document.

Key Principle: Restraints are the last resort. Always assess why the behavior is happening first.

Scenario #3: The Fire Drill
Situation: The fire alarm sounds. You are the nurse in the hallway.

Clinical Judgment Prompt:

• Action: R.A.C.E.
• Rescue: Move patients in immediate room of fire to next smoke zone.
• Alarm: Pull the alarm.
• Contain: Close all doors and windows (don’t lock them).
• Extinguish: Use extinguisher if fire is small (trash can size).

Key Principle: Horizontal evacuation (down the hall) is safer than vertical (down the stairs) for most patients unless the fire is out of control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to wear a mask for Standard Precautions?

Generally, no. Standard Precautions assume everything is infectious but rely on gloves and hand hygiene. Masks are used if there is a risk of splash (e.g., suctioning trach) or if the patient is on Droplet/Airborne precautions.

Q: Can a CNA take care of a patient in Contact Precautions?

Yes, IF the CNA has been trained in the specific PPE and the task is within their scope (hygiene, vitals, feeding). The nurse is responsible for ensuring the CNA follows protocol. NCLEX Relevance: Delegation and supervision.

Q: What is the difference between Disinfection and Sterilization?

Disinfection reduces pathogens (cleaning surfaces/bedpans) but doesn’t kill spores. Sterilization destroys ALL life (surgical instruments). You cannot use a disinfectant on a sterile instrument; it must be sterilized.

Q: What do I do if I get stuck with a needle?

1. Wash the area with soap and water. 2. Report immediately to supervisor/Employee Health. 3. Get baseline testing (Hep B, HIV, HCV). Do NOT squeeze the wound to make it bleed; this forces contaminants deeper into the tissue.

Q: How do I remember which diseases go with which precautions?

• Airborne: TB, Measles, Chickenpox, Shingles (disseminated).
• Droplet: Flu, Pneumonia, Meningitis, RSV.
• Contact: C. diff, MRSA, VRE, Herpes Simplex, Scabies, Lice.

Q: Is it ever okay to restrain a patient without an order?

Yes, in an EMERGENCY to prevent immediate harm to self or others. However, a physician’s order must be obtained immediately (usually within 1 hour) following the application. You must also document the event.

Recommended Study Approach for Safety and Infection Control

This approach is tailored to RN-level thinking, focusing on Application and Analysis rather than rote memorization.

Phase 1: Build Foundation (4 Hours)

Focus Areas:

• The Chain of Infection (Infectious Agent -> Reservoir -> Portal of Exit -> Mode of Transmission -> Portal of Entry -> Susceptible Host).
• Review the specific diseases for each precaution type (TB vs. Flu vs. MRSA).

Activities:

• Flashcards: Create a deck for “Disease -> Precaution.”
• Video Review: Watch videos on proper donning and doffing of PPE to visualize the order.

Phase 2: Deepen Understanding (3 Hours)

Focus Areas:

• Restraint protocols and legalities.
• Surgical Asepsis (The “One Touch Rule”).

Activities:

• Comparison Tables: Fill out the tables in this guide (Medical vs. Surgical, Airborne vs. Droplet).
• Scenario Analysis: Read case studies on hospital errors (Sentinel Events) and identify where the Chain of Infection was broken.

Phase 3: Apply & Test (3 Hours)

Focus Areas:

• NGN Question Patterns (Bow-tie, Matrix, SATA).
• Prioritization (Who to see first).

Activities:

• Practice Questions: Complete 50-75 NCLEX-style questions specifically on Safety. Focus on the “Rationale” for wrong answers.
• Self-Testing: Order the steps of applying restraints and donning PPE in your head.

Phase 4: Review & Reinforce (2 Hours)

Focus Areas:

• Mnemonics (RACE, PASS, ACD).
• Red Flags and Myths.

Activities:

• Quick Review: Re-read the Pitfalls and Red Flag sections.
• Final Check: Take a 25-question mock test.

✅ You’re Ready When You Can:

• [ ] Instantly identify if a disease requires Airborne, Droplet, or Contact precautions.
• [ ] State the correct order to remove PPE (Gloves first).
• [ ] Identify the “distractor” in a SATA question (e.g., an action that is “nice” but not sterile).
• [ ] Apply the Nursing Process to a fire emergency (RACE).
• [ ] Delegate tasks to a UAP involving isolation precautions safely.

🎯 NCLEX Tip: If you feel stuck on a question, visualize yourself in the room. “If I were there right now, would I be afraid of catching something?” If yes, you need PPE. “Would I be afraid of hurting the patient?” If yes, prioritize safety over comfort.

Clinical Judgment & NGN Connection

Safety topics are central to the new NGN format because they test your ability to manage multiple layers of care simultaneously.

Wrapping Up: Your Safety Action Plan

Safety and Infection Control is about more than passing an exam; it’s about the core of your professional identity as a Registered Nurse. You are the patient’s advocate and protector. By mastering Asepsis, Isolation Protocols, and Emergency Responses, you ensure that you can provide care that does no harm.

Review the Priority Matrix, memorize your Mnemonics (RACE, PASS, A.C.D.), and practice recognizing those “Red Flag” answers. You have the knowledge. Now, apply it with confidence.

🌟 Final Thought: “Safety first” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a mindset. When in doubt on the NCLEX, choose the answer that protects the airway, prevents infection, or ensures legal/ethical safety. That is almost always the right answer.