# The infection-prevention nurse observes central venous catheter dressing care. Which actions require follow-up? Highlight the practices that can increase catheter-related infection risk.

> source: MyMerci (mymerci.kr)  
> url: https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=494429&lang=en  
> language: en  
> subject: Standard/Transmission-Based Precautions/Surgical Asepsis  
> category: SIPC

## Question

The infection-prevention nurse observes central venous catheter dressing care. Which actions require follow-up? Highlight the practices that can increase catheter-related infection risk.

| Care step | Observed action |
| --- | --- |
| Before care | Performs hand hygiene before touching the catheter or dressing supplies. |
| Skin preparation | Uses chlorhexidine with alcohol and allows the site to dry completely. |
| Barrier inspection | Keeps a loose transparent dressing until the scheduled change. |
| Dressing placement | Covers the clean insertion site with a sterile transparent dressing. |
| Site assessment | Touches the prepared site again with a nonsterile glove. |
| Shower teaching | Uses an impermeable cover to keep the catheter and connection dry. |
| Hub access | Disinfects the connection before access using the approved technique. |
| Topical product | Applies antibiotic ointment to a nondialysis central-line site. |
| Glove sequence | Reuses old-dressing gloves for the new sterile dressing. |

## Explanation

Follow up when a loose dressing remains, the prepared site is touched with a nonsterile glove, ointment is applied to a nondialysis site, or old gloves are reused. Central-line care requires hand hygiene, appropriate antisepsis, and a sterile intact dressing.

## In-depth explanation

Quick answer
Correct the loose dressing left in place, nonsterile palpation after skin antisepsis, topical antibiotic ointment on a nondialysis central-line site, and reuse of contaminated gloves for the clean dressing step.

Why this is correct
A central-line insertion site needs an intact sterile dressing and aseptic handling. Hand hygiene is required before and after catheter care, antiseptic should dry, and a damp, loose, or soiled dressing should be replaced. Routine topical antibiotic ointment is avoided at nondialysis sites, and clean or sterile gloves used for the new dressing should not be the contaminated pair used to remove the old one.[2]

Easy analogy or mental picture
Think of the dressing as a sealed roof over a doorway into the bloodstream. A loose roof, a contaminated touch, or reused gloves creates a path for organisms. The roof analogy does not replace the exact dressing material and interval specified by the catheter and facility policy.

Memory hook
Clean hands, dry antiseptic, fresh gloves, sealed dressing: protect the bloodstream door.

NCLEX decision rule
For invasive-line care, trace every action that crosses from dirty to clean. If sterility is broken or the barrier is loose, wet, or soiled, stop and restore the aseptic barrier rather than covering or ignoring the break.

Why the other choices are wrong
Hand hygiene, allowing chlorhexidine-alcohol to dry, applying a sterile transparent dressing, protecting the site from shower water, and disinfecting the hub follow infection-prevention principles in the displayed situation.References

- [1]NCSBN: 2026 NCLEX-RN Test PlanNational Council of State Boards of Nursing

- [2]CDC: Intravascular Catheter Infection Prevention RecommendationsCenters for Disease Control and Prevention

## Related questions

- [A nurse is caring for a client newly admitted with suspected methicillin-resistant Staphyl…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=360517&lang=en)
- [A nurse is about to enter the room of a client with Clostridioides difficile infection dur…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=361226&lang=en)
- [A 22-year-old female client presents to the emergency department with a 4-week history of …](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=361677&lang=en)
- [A 65-year-old client admitted to the medical ICU with sepsis and acute delirium has just p…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=361679&lang=en)
- [A new graduate registered nurse (RN) on a medical unit just hung an intravenous antibiotic…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=361710&lang=en)
- [A nurse is caring for a client newly admitted with active Clostridioides difficile infecti…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=363996&lang=en)
- [A nurse is caring for an adult client newly admitted with suspected active pulmonary tuber…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=366306&lang=en)
- [A nurse cares for a client newly admitted with a positive surveillance culture for vancomy…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=366709&lang=en)

## Read in another language

- [en](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=494429&lang=en)
- [ko](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=494429&lang=ko)
- [ja](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=494429&lang=ja)
- [zh-TW](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=494429&lang=zh-tw)
- [vi](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=494429&lang=vi)

---

More free questions: [NCLEX-RN Practice](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_bank.php?lang=en)

_For study reference only. Always follow current clinical guidelines and your institution’s protocols._