You just finished preparing IV medications for a patient, and you thoroughly washed your hands before doing so. As you enter the patient's room with the medication, describe the first thing you do to prevent patient infection.

"The first thing I would do to prevent the patient from getting an infection is to wash my hands. There are other actions I would need to take in preventing infection, but handwashing is primary. I have always been an advocate of handwashing, even when many of my colleagues were not. When I found out that my nursing and care partner colleagues on my unit were not following handwashing protocols last year, I worked with my supervisor to develop training on the importance of proper handwashing, handwashing technique, and infection prevention. After this training, handwashing compliance in my unit improved greatly, and the infection control nurse attributed it to a reduction in secondary infections. In your NICU, every infection prevention measure is vital in ensuring the health and safety of your patients and I would never let my guard down during my shift."

Although it may seem obvious, the simple task of handwashing is the first step in infection prevention. To effectively answer this question, you should explain that the first step they would take to prevent infection would be to wash your hands thoroughly. A more successful answer to this question would include an example of how you have helped train colleagues on handwashing in such situations and/or assisted in the development and implementation of handwashing policies for your nursing unit. You should also remind your interviewer that you would remain compliant with any gowning requirements with certain patients.

"I would rewash my hands, and put on any PPE required for treating that patient. I would inspect the IV equipment to ensure everything was properly working and there were no signs of problems on the IV pole or with the patient's IV catheter."