Infection Prevention & Precautions
Show me where you find the resident’s current isolation/precaution status and what PPE is required.
Expected Answer Characteristics (Meets Expectations): Identifies a specific location (EHR banner, kardex, door signage, assignment sheet). States PPE based on the isolation type, not “everything.” Verifies before care.
Red Flag Characteristics (Survey Concern): “I just know,” “It’s usually on the door,” guessing PPE, or relying on memory without verification.
What is QAPI in one sentence, and what’s one example of it showing up in your daily work?
Expected Answer Characteristics (Meets Expectations): Describes improving care or safety. Gives a real daily example (reporting trends, changing a process, preventing repeat issues).
Red Flag Characteristics (Survey Concern): “Meetings,” “paperwork,” or only administrative language with no frontline connection.
Define abuse and neglect in practical terms—what would they look like on a shift?
Expected Answer Characteristics (Meets Expectations): Abuse: physical, verbal, emotional, inappropriate touch. Neglect: failure to act (missed care, ignoring call lights). Uses shift-level examples.
Red Flag Characteristics (Survey Concern): Only extreme examples, confusion between abuse and neglect, or inability to give examples.
What does RACE and PASS mean?
Expected Answer Characteristics (Meets Expectations): Correctly explains RACE (Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate) and PASS (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep).
Red Flag Characteristics (Survey Concern): Partial recall only, mixing up steps, or no understanding of purpose.
Walk me through your hand hygiene moments during a typical care task (brief, in your own words).
Expected Answer Characteristics (Meets Expectations): Mentions before resident contact, after resident contact, after glove removal, and after touching the environment/equipment. Uses own words, not policy quotes.
Red Flag Characteristics (Survey Concern): Only mentions “before and after care,” or believes gloves replace hand hygiene.
What is your facility’s QAPI program focused on right now?
Expected Answer Characteristics (Meets Expectations): Identifies current focus areas (e.g., falls, infections, call lights, skin, hospital transfers). Answer aligns with what leadership has communicated.
Red Flag Characteristics (Survey Concern): Doesn’t know any focus area, or gives a generic “everything.”
Who is your abuse coordinator?
Expected Answer Characteristics (Meets Expectations): Correctly names the role or person (Administrator).
Red Flag Characteristics (Survey Concern): Incorrect name, no idea who it is, or belief that reporting can wait.
Does the facility give you enough time to do your job safely?
Expected Answer Characteristics (Meets Expectations): Answers honestly but ties response to communication and escalation if not. Recognizes ability to ask for help.
Red Flag Characteristics (Survey Concern): States they rush unsafely without reporting, or normalizes shortcuts.
Do you know why you have to wear this PPE before entering the room?
Expected Answer Characteristics (Meets Expectations): Explains the reason tied to the source (wound, catheter, IV, respiratory secretions). Mentions protecting the resident, themselves, and other residents.
Red Flag Characteristics (Survey Concern): “Because we’re told to,” no understanding of transmission, or incorrect rationale.
If you see the same problem twice in a week (missing supplies, late trays, call-light delays), how do you report it and to whom?
Expected Answer Characteristics (Meets Expectations): Names a clear reporting path (charge nurse, supervisor, huddle, form). Recognizes patterns, not just single events.
Red Flag Characteristics (Survey Concern): “I’d just deal with it,” informal complaining only, or no escalation pathway.
If a resident tells you someone hurt them, what do you do first?
Expected Answer Characteristics (Meets Expectations): States protect the resident, report immediately to Administrator, do not investigate, and document objectively.
Red Flag Characteristics (Survey Concern): Tries to investigate, asks “why,” delays reporting to Administrator, or dismisses concern.
Does the facility give you the resources you need to do your job? If not, what do you do?
Expected Answer Characteristics (Meets Expectations): Acknowledges resources and explains how to report gaps (supplies, staffing, equipment). Shows awareness of process.
Red Flag Characteristics (Survey Concern): Accepts missing resources without reporting, or uses unsafe workarounds.