PPE sequence NCLEX-RN Practice Questions

PPE sequence NCLEX-RN Practice Questions are designed to sharpen your clinical judgment on one of nursing’s most critical safety practices: correctly donning and doffing personal protective equipment. In high-risk environments, a single lapse in sequence can lead to self-contamination, cross-transmission, or procedural delays that affect outcomes. This topic-wise set targets Safety & Infection Control with realistic, exam-level scenarios you’ll face in acute care, isolation rooms, and during aerosol-generating procedures. You’ll review the correct order of PPE application and removal, nuances for airborne, droplet, and contact precautions, and special considerations such as C. difficile, TB, PAPR use, and extended mask use. Master the sequence, reduce risk, and build confidence for the NCLEX-RN.

Q1. Which is the correct sequence for donning standard PPE for contact and droplet precautions before entering a patient room?

• Hand hygiene, mask/respirator, gown, eye protection, gloves
• Hand hygiene, gown, mask/respirator, eye protection, gloves
• Gown, mask/respirator, eye protection, gloves, hand hygiene
• Mask/respirator, eye protection, gown, gloves, hand hygiene

Correct Answer: Hand hygiene, gown, mask/respirator, eye protection, gloves

Q2. The nurse is removing PPE after caring for a patient on contact precautions. Which doffing sequence best minimizes self-contamination?

• Gown, gloves, eye protection, mask/respirator, hand hygiene
• Gloves, eye protection, gown, mask/respirator, hand hygiene
• Eye protection, mask/respirator, gloves, gown, hand hygiene
• Mask/respirator, gown, gloves, eye protection, hand hygiene

Correct Answer: Gloves, eye protection, gown, mask/respirator, hand hygiene

Q3. A nurse is preparing to enter the room of a patient with tuberculosis (airborne precautions). Which PPE is essential before entry?

• Surgical mask, gown, gloves
• N95 respirator (fit-tested), eye protection if splashes anticipated
• Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) mandatory for all entries
• Surgical mask and face shield only

Correct Answer: N95 respirator (fit-tested), eye protection if splashes anticipated

Q4. During doffing after care of a patient with suspected influenza (droplet precautions), when should the nurse remove the mask?

• Immediately after removing gloves, while still in the patient room
• After removing gloves, eye protection, and gown, and after leaving the patient room
• Before removing eye protection to avoid touching the face with the mask on
• After performing hand hygiene but before removing the gown

Correct Answer: After removing gloves, eye protection, and gown, and after leaving the patient room

Q5. For a patient with C. difficile infection, which hand hygiene approach is required on exit after removing PPE?

• Alcohol-based hand rub only
• Soap and water handwashing
• No hand hygiene if gloves and gown were used
• Chlorhexidine-only wash

Correct Answer: Soap and water handwashing

Q6. When donning PPE for contact precautions, which action ensures wrist coverage and reduces contamination risk?

• Wear gloves under gown cuffs
• Wear gloves over gown cuffs
• Double-glove with inner gloves over the gown cuff
• Roll up gown sleeves to improve dexterity

Correct Answer: Wear gloves over gown cuffs

Q7. The nurse is removing a contaminated gown. Which technique best minimizes aerosolization and contamination during removal?

• Pull gown forward at the chest and shake it loose
• Break the ties, roll the gown inside-out away from the body, then discard
• Lift the gown over the head to avoid touching the sides
• Cut the gown down the front and let it fall to the floor

Correct Answer: Break the ties, roll the gown inside-out away from the body, then discard

Q8. Which sequence is appropriate when donning PPE for an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP) on a patient with suspected COVID-19?

• Hand hygiene, gown, surgical mask, eye protection, gloves
• Hand hygiene, gown, N95 respirator, eye protection, gloves
• Hand hygiene, N95 respirator, gown, gloves, eye protection
• Hand hygiene, eye protection, gown, N95 respirator, gloves

Correct Answer: Hand hygiene, gown, N95 respirator, eye protection, gloves

Q9. A nurse with a short, trimmed beard is assigned to an airborne isolation room. Which is the safest respiratory protection?

• N95 respirator after seal check
• Surgical mask with face shield
• PAPR with hood if fit-testing fails due to facial hair
• Cloth mask under an N95 for better seal

Correct Answer: PAPR with hood if fit-testing fails due to facial hair

Q10. During doffing, the nurse’s glove tears with visible contamination. What is the immediate next action?

• Continue doffing and clean hands at the end
• Stop, perform hand hygiene on exposed skin, and don a clean glove before continuing
• Remove face protection first to improve visibility
• Exit the area immediately without removing remaining PPE

Correct Answer: Stop, perform hand hygiene on exposed skin, and don a clean glove before continuing

Q11. Which PPE combination is appropriate for contact precautions without anticipated splash?

• Gown and gloves
• Gown, gloves, eye protection, N95 respirator
• Surgical mask only
• Eye protection and gloves only

Correct Answer: Gown and gloves

Q12. When removing gloves using the “glove-in-glove” technique, which step is correct?

• Grasp the first glove at the palm with bare fingers and pull off
• Pinch the outside of the first glove at the wrist, peel off, and hold in gloved hand
• Hook fingers under the cuff of the second glove on the outside surface
• Shake hands to loosen gloves before removal

Correct Answer: Pinch the outside of the first glove at the wrist, peel off, and hold in gloved hand

Q13. A nurse caring for a patient with meningococcal meningitis must remove PPE. Which statement is correct regarding mask removal?

• Remove the surgical mask in the room immediately after care
• Remove the surgical mask after leaving the room, at the doorway or just outside
• Keep the mask on until the end of the shift for extended use
• Remove the mask before the gown to avoid contact with the face

Correct Answer: Remove the surgical mask after leaving the room, at the doorway or just outside

Q14. For an airborne isolation room with negative pressure, where should the nurse remove the N95 respirator after care?

• Inside the patient room to prevent contamination of the hallway
• In the anteroom or after exiting the room with the door closed
• At the nurses’ station for convenience
• Immediately after removing gloves while inside the room

Correct Answer: In the anteroom or after exiting the room with the door closed

Q15. Which donning step should always precede putting on any PPE?

• Gathering supplies
• Hand hygiene
• Applying hand lotion
• Checking patient identity

Correct Answer: Hand hygiene

Q16. While doffing a face shield, which technique reduces self-contamination risk?

• Grasp the front of the shield and pull forward
• Remove by handling the strap or earpieces from the back
• Tilt head forward and let it drop into the trash
• Slide fingers under the forehead padding to lift

Correct Answer: Remove by handling the strap or earpieces from the back

Q17. For a patient on contact and droplet precautions with frequent body fluid splashes anticipated, which PPE is optimal?

• Gown and gloves only
• Gown, gloves, surgical mask, and face shield
• N95 respirator and gloves only
• Face shield and gloves only

Correct Answer: Gown, gloves, surgical mask, and face shield

Q18. A nurse must leave the room briefly and return immediately to continue care. Which PPE element is typically changed between room exit and re-entry for contact precautions?

• Gown and gloves should be removed and new ones donned on re-entry
• Only the gloves should be kept and sanitized for re-entry
• All PPE can be kept on if under 5 minutes
• Only the mask should be changed

Correct Answer: Gown and gloves should be removed and new ones donned on re-entry

Q19. In cases of confirmed Ebola virus disease, which modification to standard PPE sequencing is most appropriate?

• Double-gloving with trained observer for donning and doffing
• No need for eye protection if a mask is worn
• Remove respirator first to reduce heat stress
• Use cloth gowns for comfort

Correct Answer: Double-gloving with trained observer for donning and doffing

Q20. When using a PAPR for airborne precautions, which donning step is correct?

• Don the PAPR hood before the gown to avoid dislodging the gown
• Don gown first, then PAPR hood, then gloves
• Skip gloves because the PAPR provides full protection
• Wear a surgical mask under the PAPR hood

Correct Answer: Don gown first, then PAPR hood, then gloves

Q21. Which is the last step after removing all PPE?

• Document PPE use
• Hand hygiene
• Disinfect the doffing area
• Check PPE stock levels

Correct Answer: Hand hygiene

Q22. The nurse is unsure whether splash exposure is likely. Which is the best approach to eye protection?

• Defer eye protection to improve visibility
• Use a face shield or goggles as part of donning to err on the side of safety
• Wear prescription glasses as adequate protection
• Don eye protection only if splash occurs

Correct Answer: Use a face shield or goggles as part of donning to err on the side of safety

Q23. A patient with varicella (chickenpox) is in airborne and contact isolation. Which PPE sequence is correct for donning?

• Hand hygiene, N95 respirator, gown, gloves, eye protection as needed
• Hand hygiene, gown, gloves, N95 respirator, eye protection
• Hand hygiene, gown, N95 respirator, eye protection, gloves
• N95 respirator, gown, gloves, hand hygiene, eye protection

Correct Answer: Hand hygiene, gown, N95 respirator, eye protection, gloves

Q24. While doffing, the nurse inadvertently touches the front of the surgical mask. What is the safest immediate action?

• Continue doffing; contamination risk is minimal
• Perform hand hygiene and continue doffing
• Re-don a new mask immediately
• Replace the gown before proceeding

Correct Answer: Perform hand hygiene and continue doffing

Q25. The primary rationale for removing gloves before eye protection during doffing is to:

• Reduce heat stress
• Prevent contaminating mucous membranes with heavily contaminated gloves
• Save time
• Maintain the integrity of the gown

Correct Answer: Prevent contaminating mucous membranes with heavily contaminated gloves

Q26. Which step is critical when donning an N95 respirator?

• Performing a user seal check each time the respirator is donned
• Loosening straps for comfort
• Placing the respirator below the nose to ease breathing
• Wearing it under the chin with straps crossed

Correct Answer: Performing a user seal check each time the respirator is donned

Q27. During extended use protocols for respirators due to supply shortages, which remains true?

• Hand hygiene is optional when touching the respirator
• Avoid touching the front of the respirator; perform hand hygiene if adjustment is needed
• Store the respirator in a pocket between patients
• Remove and re-don between each patient to rest the face

Correct Answer: Avoid touching the front of the respirator; perform hand hygiene if adjustment is needed

Q28. Which practice best reduces self-contamination when doffing gown and gloves together (if facility policy permits)?

• Untie gown, grasp the front of the gown, and pull outward
• Grasp the gown at the shoulders and rip off quickly
• Grasp the gown at the front and sleeves, roll inside-out while peeling gloves off into the gown
• Remove gloves first, then pull gown over the head

Correct Answer: Grasp the gown at the front and sleeves, roll inside-out while peeling gloves off into the gown

Q29. For a neutropenic (protective environment) patient, which statement about PPE is correct?

• N95 is required for all entries
• PPE is used primarily to protect the patient; perform meticulous hand hygiene and wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms
• No PPE is ever required
• Only gloves are required at all times

Correct Answer: PPE is used primarily to protect the patient; perform meticulous hand hygiene and wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms

Q30. A nurse preparing chemotherapy with risk of splashes is selecting PPE in a clean compounding area. Which is the correct donning priority?

• Hand hygiene, chemotherapy gown, eye/face protection, chemotherapy-rated gloves
• Eye protection, gloves, gown, hand hygiene
• Gloves, gown, mask, hand hygiene
• Gown, gloves, hand hygiene, eye protection

Correct Answer: Hand hygiene, chemotherapy gown, eye/face protection, chemotherapy-rated gloves

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