Infection control is a highly tested topic on the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) because preventing the spread of infections is a fundamental responsibility of every nurse. Whether it’s identifying which precautions to follow or knowing how to don and doff PPE correctly, this section can make or break your score.
In this blog, we’ll cover key infection control principles, review isolation precautions, and provide strategies to help you answer NCLEX questions with confidence!
Why Infection Control is Crucial for NCLEX?
The NCLEX tests your ability to:
✅ Recognize infections that require special precautions
✅ Apply the correct PPE for different transmission types
✅ Prevent hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)
✅ Educate patients about hand hygiene and infection prevention
Understanding the Four Types of Isolation Precautions
The CDC categorizes isolation precautions into four main types:
1️⃣ Standard Precautions (For ALL Patients)
• Used for: All patient interactions
• Includes:
✅ Hand hygiene (before & after patient contact)
✅ Wearing gloves when handling bodily fluids
✅ Proper disposal of sharps & biohazard materials
💡NCLEX Tip: Always assume all patients are potentially infectious—standard precautions apply to everyone!
2️⃣ Contact Precautions (For Infections Spread by Touch)
• Used for: MRSA, C. Difficile, VRE, RSV, Scabies
• PPE: Gloves + Gown (always required)
• Room: Private or cohort
• Hand Hygiene: Soap & water for C. Diff (NO hand sanitizer)
💡NCLEX Tip:
🛑 C. Difficile requires handwashing with soap & water, NOT alcohol-based sanitizer.
3️⃣ Droplet Precautions (For Respiratory Infections Spread by Large Droplets)
• Used for: Influenza, Pertussis, Mumps, Rubella, Meningitis
• PPE: Surgical mask + Standard precautions
• Room: Private or cohort
• Patient Transport: Patient wears a surgical mask
💡NCLEX Tip: If it “travels in spit,” think droplet precautions!
4️⃣ Airborne Precautions (For Tiny Particles That Stay Suspended in Air)
• Used for: Tuberculosis (TB), Measles, Varicella (Chickenpox), COVID-19
• PPE: N95 mask + Standard precautions
• Room: Negative pressure room (airborne infection isolation room – AIIR)
• Patient Transport: Patient wears a surgical mask
💡NCLEX Tip: Airborne = N95 mask + Negative pressure room
How to Answer NCLEX Infection Control Questions
1️⃣ Identify the Type of Transmission
• Ask yourself:
• Is the infection spread by touch? → Contact Precautions
• Is it spread by respiratory droplets (cough/sneeze)? → Droplet Precautions
• Is it airborne (floating in the air)? → Airborne Precautions
• Patient Transport: Patient wears a surgical mask
2️⃣ Know the PPE Order (Donning & Doffing)
✅ Donning (Putting On PPE) – NCLEX Mnemonic: “Gown, Mask, Goggles, Gloves”
1. Gown
2. Mask (or N95 respirator)
3. Goggles/Face Shield
4. Gloves (last to put on, first to remove!)
✅ Doffing (Removing PPE) – NCLEX Mnemonic: “Gloves, Goggles, Gown, Mask”
1. Gloves (first to remove!)
2. Goggles/Face Shield
3. Gown
4. Mask (last to remove after leaving the patient’s room)
💡NCLEX Tip: Gloves ALWAYS come off first. The mask ALWAYS comes off last.
3️⃣ Example NCLEX Infection Control Questions
Question 1:
Which patient should be placed in airborne precautions?
A) A 5-year-old with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
B) A 35-year-old with bacterial meningitis
C) A 60-year-old with tuberculosis (TB)
D) A 24-year-old with influenza
✅ Correct Answer: C (Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions with an N95 mask &
negative pressure room).
Question 2:
A nurse is preparing to remove personal protective equipment (PPE) after caring for a patient on contact precautions for MRSA. Which PPE should the nurse remove first?
A) Mask
B) Gown
C) Gloves
D) Goggles
✅ Correct Answer: C (Gloves are the dirtiest and should be removed first).
Final NCLEX Tips for Infection Control
🔥 Memorize the 4 types of isolation precautions.
🔥 Always wash hands with soap & water for C. Diff.
🔥 N95 + negative pressure for airborne diseases.
🔥 Gloves off first, mask off last.
Ace the NCLEX with Confidence!
At Nurse Assist International (NAI), we provide expert NCLEX prep courses with high-yield strategies, practice questions, and instructor support to help you succeed.
💡Ready to pass your NCLEX? Enroll with NAI today and start your journey toward becoming a licensed nurse!