NCLEX Review: Precautions

Introduction

• Focus on Precautions: Standard and Transmission-based
• Review includes transmission methods (airborne, droplet, contact) and required PPE
• Diseases associated with each precaution type
• Mnemonics provided for easy recall

Standard Precautions

• Purpose: To protect against unknown infectious diseases
• Practices:
  • Hand Hygiene
  • Appropriate PPE (as needed)
  • Handling patient equipment
  • Injection safety
  • Environmental cleaning
  • Respiratory hygiene
  • Laundry handling
  • Patient room placement

Hand Hygiene

• Perform before/after patient contact, after glove removal, after touching surfaces
• Use soap and water or hand sanitizing gel
• Soap and Water Required for:
  • Visibly soiled hands
  • Before eating
  • After bathroom use
  • Diarrhea illnesses (e.g., C. diff, Norovirus, Rotavirus)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Gloves: For contact with fluids (vomit, stool, urine, mucus, blood)
• Gowns: For potential contact with fluids/blood
• Goggles/Face mask/Shield: For potential splashes

Transmission-Based Precautions

• Added based on known/suspected infectious diseases

Airborne Precautions

• Transmission: Respiratory droplets that turn into droplet nuclei
• Diseases: Chickenpox, Shingles, Measles, Tuberculosis
• PPE: N95 mask
• Room Requirements: Special ventilation (negative pressure room)
• Mnemonic: "Airborne Chicken Number 95 Dissected Her Tubby Mealworms"

Droplet Precautions

• Transmission: Large droplets within 3 feet
• Diseases: Diphtheria, Influenza, Meningococcal diseases, Mumps, Pneumonia, etc.
• PPE: Surgical mask
• Mnemonic: "Who's Adjustable Droplet Mask Sore Scary Pneumatic Fluid Parasite Playing Plaguing Distinguished German Men My Epic Moms Rhonda"
• Room Requirements: No special ventilation, door can remain open

Contact Precautions

• Transmission: Direct/indirect contact with patient or environment
• Diseases: MRSA, VRE, Diarrhea infections, Skin infections, Wound infections, Pulmonary infections, Eye infections
• PPE: Gloves and gown
• Mnemonic: "Dawn Medical Gloves I Scan with Every Contact Precautions Session"
• Room Requirements: Single room or cohorting with same disease

Conclusion

• Comprehensive review of precautions for NCLEX
• Encouragement to take quiz and subscribe for more resources