by GottaGetIn

Hi! I have been lurking for eons and have found this site to be so hopeful!!

I am taking the NCLEX on July 1st and have been studying like crazy for the past month or so. I'm SO nervous!! Anyway, I am wondering if you guys would help me with a dilemma?

I have been studying infection control from the CDC website because my friends that are taking the test as of recent have said there are tons of Q's on the NCLEX about it. I think I have confused myself. Tell me if this is correct:

Droplet Precautions: Wear Mask
Airborne: N95 Mask
Contact: gloves and gown

This is what the CDC says....but for some reason I was thinking in droplet you had to wear mask, gloves, gown.....I am all confused!!! Can someone help me out?

Thank you and Good Luck to ALL of you taking the NCLEX!!!!!!!!

Re: Can someone help me re: Infection Control Q's?

yes those are right but there is more to do for pts depending on what the q's are asking.who will a certain pt room with?what type of room will a pt stay in with this disease?Saunder's has a great lay out about in their chapter about infection control.As I have said in other post if you know airborne and contact then everything else falls into droplet

Re: Can someone help me re: Infection Control Q's?

Thank you for replying!!! Yes, i have the cohorting stuff from the CDC as well......So, if a patient is on droplet precautions, you go into their room with JUST a mask on?

Re: Can someone help me re: Infection Control Q's?

I would think if they are under droplet precaution, I would definitely wear gloves and gown so I would not come into contact with their droplets on surfaces (such as tray tables, rails, etc.) No way would I go in with just a mask...

Re: Can someone help me re: Infection Control Q's?

I did a bit of research, and you are correct that there is some info out there that a mask is sufficient, but I don't feel it is. The visiting nurse agency I work for confirms my suspicions. The policy for us is as follow:

"Droplet spread occurs when bacteria or viruses travel in large droplets
that are propelled short distances through the air when people cough or
sneeze.
The droplets are loaded with infectious particles and may land on the
eyes, nose or mouth of others who are in close contact (6 feet/2
meters); and on household surfaces.
When to Use Droplet Precautions?
Known infections (diagnosed or laboratory confirmed):
• Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Rubella (German Measles), Para
influenza, RSV, Seasonal Flu,
Suspected infections (based on signs & symptoms):
• E.g. Febrile Respiratory Illness (FRI) with new or worsening cough,
fever, chills, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, weakness
Which Hand Hygiene Method?
• ABHR as the #1 hand hygiene method.
• Soap & water to remove visible soiling.
What PPE to Wear?
• Surgical mask to protect nose and mouth
• Eye protection to protect eyes
When to apply PPE?
• Apply PPE before coming within 6 feet or 2 meters of coughing".

(PPE equals gowns, gloves, mask and eye protection (there were pictures of these that did not copy and paste)).

I have had the lovely experience of getting trach secretions into my eyes and mouth (2 separate occasions), as I walked into a patient's room who had removed his trach cap and began coughing. It literally hit me ACROSS THE ROOM as I entered. I had to go to ER for exposure prophylaxis both times.

I guess for the exam you have to know what they want you to know, but in real life, I always vote for protecting my health.

Re: Can someone help me re: Infection Control Q's?

Thank you! I agree! I wouldn't go in there with just a mask......BUT, I am wondering what they want in NCLEX world, ya know? The CDC is obviously a pretty reliable source but it really has me wondering if it is what NCLEX wants.

SO confused!!! LOL! I hope I get this straight by my test on Wednesday!

Re: Can someone help me re: Infection Control Q's?

I'm worried about that too! I think if you are at risk for coming into contact with blood or bodily secretions, you wear all PPE (gloves, gown, mask)...but if you are just walking in to check an IV pump...you would just wear a mask. But I'm wondering about it too! I'm really worrying about infection control for the test, because it seems like there are different answers depending on the source you use. Does anyone have anything else to add who had taken NCLEX??

Re: Can someone help me re: Infection Control Q's?

RSV is under contact precautions though per Nclex.
contact:gown & gloves + private room or cohort client when coming in contact with pt.
dropletrivate room or cohort client,use of mask, place mask on pt if leaving the room
airborn: single room negative pressure , door kept closed, ultra violet germicide irraidiation or high particulate air filter.mask or respiratory protection,mask on clientwhen leaving room.

I know you guys are post what the CD has but you need to go off of what is written in your nursing text books because the NCLEX IS NOT ALWAY UPDATED AS OFTEN AS WHAT OTHER AGENCIES ARE. If the CDC decided that this year we dont need to use gowns anymore for contact precautions, it would be the right answer on your NCLEX right now because NCLEX is normally 2 years behind on whatever new technology is out. There is some lag time on updated information. They have to test the Qs etc.They have to make sure that the information is universal and are being taught to everyone who will sit for the exam.Which is why nursing books are updated yearly. I do believe the last time they updated Nclex was in 2007.If I do recall NCLEX is about 2 years behind . So please follow your nursing books, not the CDC website.

Perfect example was when they changed universal precaution to STANDARD PRECAUTION. All of the books got updated and it didnt change on Nclex until a few years later. I remember them telling us that when we took our LPN.I hope this helps

Re: Can someone help me re: Infection Control Q's?

Yes RSV is under contact even under the CDC, NCLEX and hospital. I know we arent suppose to use life experiences on the NCLEX but this helped me to rem. At the time I didnt know this because I had never encountered it but my goddaughter had RSV and she was on contact isolation. I wasnt sure why at the time so I checked online and with my teacher and she confirmed it. I figured it was airborne or droplet because of coughing and stuff but no its Contact: gown, gloves and a private room.

Re: Can someone help me re: Infection Control Q's?

I found a good YouTube video that quizzes you on TONS of diseases for infection control! It's a good review to see how much you know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdmiQ...om=PL&index=12