Patient Safety Quiz – August 2026 Exploring Nursing Students’ Knowledge of Patient Safety Step 1 of 12 8% If you agree to take part in this study, please agree to the terms, enter the access code and then click the AGREE AND CONTINUE button to proceed to the quiz. We will assume that you have read the Participant Information Statement, that you consent to participate in the quiz, and that you agree to the researchers: Combining your anonymous responses to the quiz with responses of other participants for data analysis. Analysing and publishing the results of the combined quiz data in a way that does not identify you or any other participants. Using the combined study data in future research. (You must select one to continue with the quiz) Having read the information about the study above I agree to take part in this online quiz. I do not agree to take part in the study (You must select one to continue with the quiz)Study codeIf you are a student from a participating University, please use the study code given to you by your educator (all lowercase). All other students and staff please leave blank and click ‘Continue’ to access the quiz. Quiz instructions There are 10 demographic questions and 45 multiple choice questions. This quiz will take approximately 15-20 minutes and it will close after one hour. The quiz will not allow back-tracking or second attempts. When you have completed the quiz you will be provided with a certificate of achievement which includes your results. Age*Your age in yearsPlease enter a number from 0 to 110.Gender*MaleFemalePrefer Not to AnswerYour university of study*UTSCQUUniversity of the Sunshine CoastACUFederation University AustraliaLaTrobeDeakinUniversity of QueenslandFlindersUniversity of South AustraliaNotre Dame SydneyJames Cook UniversityMonashUniversity of OtagoQueensland University of TechnologyMurdoch UniversityOtago PolytechnicNorth TecSouthern Institute TechnologyOther UniversityPlease specify which university you are enrolled in* Program of study (e.g. BNursing)* Year of enrolment*20302029202820272026202520242023202220202019201820172016201520142012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000Pre 2000Are you currently (or previously) employed in the healthcare industry?* Yes No Please specify your role:* Country of birth*AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCongo, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of theCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench PolynesiaGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuamGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiNorth KoreaSouth KoreaKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacedoniaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSpainSri LankaSudanSudan, SouthSurinameSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVatican CityVenezuelaVietnamVirgin Islands, BritishVirgin Islands, U.S.YemenZambiaZimbabwePlease specify how long you have lived in Australia:* Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent?* Yes No Primary language/s spoken at home:*CTRL or CMD click to choose multiple options EnglishFrenchSpanishGermanChinese (Mandarin)IndonesianAfrikannsAlbanianArabicArmenianBasqueBengaliBulgarianCatalanCambodianCroationCzechDanishDutchEstonianFijiFinnishGeorgianGreekGujaratiHebrewHindiHungarianIcelandicIrishItalianJapaneseJavaneseKoreanLatinLatvianLithuanianMacedonianMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianNepaliNorwegianPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiQuechuaRomanianRussianSamoanSerbianSinhaleseSlovakSlovenianSwahiliSwedishTamilTatarTeluguThaiTibetanTongaTurkishUkranianUrduUzbekVietnameseWelshXhosa Q1*Which of the following behaviours MOST reflect a person-centred approach by nurses? Respecting patients’ individual rights and values Designing quality care processes that align with healthcare policies Developing meaningful friendships with patients Upholding the preferences and needs of medical officers Q2*When practicing in a person-centred manner, nurses should: make decisions for and on behalf of patients insist that patients make autonomous healthcare decisions involve patients’ families in all healthcare decisions view patients as experts and partners in healthcare decision making Q3*Which of the following statements is correct? Person-centred care increases: nursing burnout healthcare costs patient satisfaction patient length of stay Q4*Mrs Dobson is a 77 year old woman admitted to hospital for asthma. Why is educating Mrs Dobson about her medications an example of person-centred care? Patient education helps patients make informed decisions about medications Patient education is a requirement of the National Open Disclosure policy Patient education is a priority for confused older people Patient education ensures that patients follow medication orders Q5*From the list below, identify TWO situations when nurses should advocate for patients? When patients refuse to listen to advice about their treatment plan When the nurse believes that the patient’s decision about their treatment plan is incorrect When patients do not understand what they have been told about their prognosis When the nurse believes that patient care is not safe Q6*What are the MOST common causes of adverse patient outcomes? Medication calculation and administration errors Poor technical and procedural skills Staff shortages and skill mix Poor communication and teamwork Q7*From the list below, identify THREE skills that are essential to therapeutic communication? Establishing rapport with staff Establishing rapport with the patient Expressing sympathy for the patient Expressing empathy for the patient Gaining the patient’s trust Ensuring all patients receive equal care Q8*Which of the following is an example of therapeutic communication by a nurse with a person who is anxious about having a minor surgical procedure? “Don’t worry. It will be over before you know it.” “I’m glad you trusted me enough to tell me how you are feeling” “Oh dear, it’s worrying isn’t it. I’m glad it’s you and not me.” “I’ve had major surgery which was terrible. Fortunately you are only having a minor procedure.” Q9*Which of the following non-verbal communication skills should be used when interviewing a patient? Maintaining indirect eye contact Sitting squarely facing the patient Maintaining an open posture with legs and arms crossed Providing space by leaning backwards away from the patient Q10*One of the parents in the Emergency Department shouts at the triage nurse and demands to know why his daughter hasn’t been seen. What should the nurse say? “There are sicker children than your daughter so please calm down and wait your turn.” “I can see that you are worried about your daughter – let me check on the wait time for you.” “This is a Zero Tolerance workplace. I will call security if you shout at me.” “I’m sorry, but we are very busy today. You will just have to wait like everyone else.” Q11*Yasmina Shahid, 20 years old, came to Australia as an asylum seeker 18 months ago. She has been admitted to hospital with abdominal pain and is the only female in a four bed room. Yasmina explains that sharing a hospital room with males is against cultural beliefs and she asks whether she can change rooms. Which of the following statements is MOST correct? Quality healthcare takes priority over a person’s cultural beliefs. An equitable approach to health care means that Yasmina’s request should not be given priority over the needs of other patients. Migrants need to adapt to Australian cultural norms so Yasmina’s request is unreasonable. Yasmina’s cultural needs should be respected and supported. Q12*From the list below, identify THREE questions that the nurse should ask Yasmina when undertaking a cultural assessment? How are healthcare decisions made in your family? Why did you come to Australia? Have you ever been in an Australian hospital before? Do you have a particular religious faith? What did your doctor say is wrong with you? What does your illness mean to you? Q13*Which of the following comments suggests that a healthcare professional is culturally competent? “I believe that migrants should adapt to the way we do things here and should not expect special treatment.” “I believe that respecting people’s cultural beliefs does not mean I always have to agree with them.” “To me all patients are human beings and their culture, ethnicity or race do not matter. I provide equal care for everybody.” “I am trying to memorise the cultural practices of the migrant groups in my area so that I don’t have to ask people about their individual cultural needs and values.” Q14*Mr Daniel Lester is a 60-year-old Aboriginal man who was admitted with end-stage kidney disease. You are committed to providing culturally safe care to Mr Lester. Which of the following statements is FALSE? Cultural safety requires healthcare professionals to be self-aware and reflective Cultural safety means respecting the cultural values of the patient Cultural safety is a concept developed in New Zealand by nurses working with Māori people Cultural safety means being tolerant of differences between different ethnic groups Q15*Why might an Aboriginal Liaison Officer be asked to see Mr Lester? To ensure Mr Lester has a clear understanding of hospital rules about visiting hours. To provide culturally safe nursing care to Mr Lester To organise a discharge plan for Mr Lester To provide emotional and cultural support to Mr Lester and his family Q16*A nurse becomes concerned about a patient’s clinical deterioration and requests a clinical review using the acronym ISBAR to structure the telephone call. From the list below, identify FIVE correct components of ISBAR. Situation Breathing Indication Response Assessment Background Identification Signs and symptoms Allergies Recommendation Q17*Identify from the list below, THREE characteristics of effective healthcare teams. Effective and timely communication Shared decision making in critical situations Shared commitment to a common goal Top down communication Mutual respect and trust Hierarchical leadership Q18*During an emergency situation the following communication occurs. Doctor: Give 40 mg Furosemide IV push. Nurse: 40 mg Furosemide IV push? Doctor: That’s correct What is this communication technique called? Call out Check-back Two-challenge rule Closed loop communication Q19*PACE is an acronym for graded assertiveness. Which of the following represent the FOUR elements of PACE? Plan – e.g. “I have a better plan for this situation …” Action – e.g. “Let’s take a different approach?” Alert – e.g. “I think that will cause…” Challenge – “Your approach will harm…” Concerns – “I feel a little concerned about what you are doing …” Emergency action – e.g. “STOP what you are doing!” Probe – e.g. “Can you tell me why you want to do that?” Explain – e.g. “Can you explain why you have made that decision?” Q20*Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an effective nursing manager of an Emergency Department? The ability to make autonomous decisions when required High level situational awareness in critical situations The determination to assume full responsibility during resuscitation situations The ability to empower team members to question practice decisions Q21*Joel Andrews, 36 years old, was admitted to hospital with pneumonia. Joel’s current observations are: Temperature 39°C Pulse rate 128 beats/min Respiratory rate 26 per minute Blood pressure 100/60mmHg Oxygen saturation 90% on a Hudson mask at 6 L/min Which of the following statements is CORRECT in regards to Joel’s observations? He is hypertensive, hypoxic and dyspnoeic He is febrile, tachycardic, and tachypnoeic He is tachypnoeic, bradycardic and hypoxic He is febrile, bradycardic and hypoxic Q22*Mr Lee is a 75 year old man who is day 2 following a bowel resection. In handover you hear that Mr Lee has hypervolaemia. What signs and symptoms are typical of hypervolaemia? Tachycardia and hypertension Poor skin turgor and dry mucous membranes Oliguria and elevated haematocrit levels Hypotension and tachycardia Q23*Mr Lee’s serum sodium is 128mmol/L and his serum potassium is 3.0mmol/L. Mr Lee is: Hypernatraemic and hypokalaemic Hypernatraemic and hyperkalaemic Hyponatraemic and hypokalaemic Hyponatraemic and hyperkalaemic Q24*Aiden O’Brien is brought into the Emergency Department (ED) following a motor vehicle accident. Aiden’s Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is 8. What does this indicate? No head injury Severe head injury Moderate head injury Mild head injury Q25*You are asked to conduct a primary trauma survey. Which of the following statements BEST characterises a primary trauma survey? Obtaining an accurate history of the mechanism of a patient’s injury Rapidly assessing and stabilising any compromise to a patient’s airway, breathing and circulation Performing a head to toe physical examination to determine the extent of the trauma Rapidly obtaining a set of vital signs on a patient Q26*From the list below, identify the THREE MOST credible sources of evidence to inform nursing practice. Patient preferences Newspaper articles Empirical studies Health information websites Health department policy directives Clinical expertise Q27*The infection control Clinical Nurse Consultant on your ward explains that the rate of intravenous (IV) cannula site infections on your ward has increased significantly over the last 18 months. He asks for volunteers to work with him on a quality improvement project to review and update the relevant policy and procedure. What is an appropriate FIRST step in this process? search for recent systematic reviews on the topic of IV cannula management conduct a randomised control trial of IV dressing products interview patients to collect qualitative data about their experiences of having an IV conduct a survey to elicit staff views about IV management Q28*Your Nurse Unit Manager tells you that she has received the 2016-2017 patient satisfaction audit results and that your ward rated highly in every category except “Patient satisfaction with pain management”. She asks you to design a study exploring orthopaedic patients’ experiences of post-operative pain. Which of the following research methods is MOST appropriate for this study? interviews with patients to collect qualitative data interviews with staff to collect qualitative data a randomised control trial an online survey to collect quantitative data Q29*Which of the following is considered to be the HIGHEST level of evidence? Randomised controlled trials Systematic reviews Quasi-experimental studies Case studies Q30*What does the term RELIABILITY mean when used to describe a research instrument? Whether the reporting of the results from the instrument is appropriate Whether the instrument can be easily understood by participants Whether the instrument consistently measures what it is intended to measure Whether the content of the instrument is appropriate Q31*Which of the following is a CORRECT definition of an adverse event? A situation in which there was significant potential for harm, but no incident occurred An unintentional or unexpected event that could have resulted in injury or death A deliberate deviation from standard operating procedures, standards or rules Unintended injury or illness resulting from healthcare Q32*Open disclosure refers to the open discussion of an incident that resulted in an adverse event. Which TWO of the following are elements of the Australian Open Disclosure Framework? Identification of who was responsible for the adverse event An expression of regret to the patient A factual explanation of what happened An explanation of potential legal actions Q33*James Reason’s “Swiss Cheese Model” is one model for conceptualising the human and systems factors that can lead to errors. Which of the following descriptors is an element of this model? Each hole in the cheese represents an opportunity for a process to fail When the holes in the cheese line up it is less likely that an error will be caught Each hole in the cheese represents a defensive layer in the process The more holes in the cheese the more likely it is that an error will be caught Q34*Which of the following factors is LEAST likely to have a negative impact on patient safety: The use of electronic medical records Environmental noise and clutter A culture of workplace bullying Staff stress levels Q35*Which of the following are elements of the ABCDEGH clinical assessment and documentation mnemonic? Airway, Circulation and Drugs Exposure, Holistic assessment and Disorientation Airway, Breathing and Disability Electrocardiograph, Fluids and Glucose Q36*What is the MAIN principle of antimicrobial stewardship? To increase the prophylactic use of antimicrobial medications To promote the timely prescription of antimicrobial medications to at risk patients To reduce inappropriate antimicrobial use To prevent adverse consequences of antimicrobial use Q37*When providing discharge education to a patient recently diagnosed with hepatitis C, the nurse knows that their teaching has been effective when the patient states: “I will be much more careful where I eat” “I will warn my friends to get vaccinated against this disease” “I will use barrier protection during sex” “I know I can no longer drink any alcohol” Q38*While commencing a blood transfusion the nurse experiences a sharps injury. What should the nurse do? See a medical officer for a prescription of antibiotics to prevent colonisation Squeeze the site of injury until blood flows freely to expel potential contaminants See staff health or the emergency department for assessment of the risk of transmission of blood-borne viruses Swab the site of injury with chlorhexidine solution to prevent infection from occurring Q39*A patient has a wound swab taken and Staphylococcus aureus is identified. Would the doctor prescribe antibiotics? No, not unless there are local signs of infection such as pain, pus and redness Yes, because wounds colonised with Staphylococcus aureus are unlikely to heal Yes, because Staphylococcus aureus is the most serious community-based infection No, because Staphylococcus aureus is not resistant to antibiotics Q40*Which microorganism is not destroyed by alcohol hand rub? Enterobacter species Klebsiella pneumonia Staphylococcus aureus Clostridium Difficile Q41*For nurses to administer medications a valid prescription is required. From the list below identify THREE components of a valid prescription. the trade name of the drug the route of administration patient’s allergy status the signature of the patient the generic name of the drug the dose of the drug to be administered Q42*From the list below identify THREE medications classified as HIGH-RISK. Insulin preparations Potassium Antipsychotic medications Analgesic medications Antihypertensive medications Chemotherapeutic agents Q43*Which of the following is a correct definition of a medication side effect? An unintended effect of a drug that is usually predictable and may be harmless or potentially harmful A medication error that was detected and corrected before it reached the patient. A preventable medication incident that leads to, or has the potential to lead to, harm to the patient. A response to a medication that is harmful and unintended and occurs at normal doses. Q44*When administering a Schedule 4D medication which of the following is MOST correct? Two staff members, one of whom must be a registered nurse, must check out and sign for the medication. Two staff members, one of whom must be a registered nurse, must witness administration of the medication. Two registered nurses must check out, administer and sign for the medication. Two nurses, one of whom may be a nursing student, must check out and witness administration of the medication. Q45*When preparing to administer a patient’s digoxin you note that the dose prescribed is 125mg and the dose in stock is 250 micrograms. Which THREE of the following actions are appropriate in this situation? Check the patient’s pulse before administering the medication Refuse to administer the digoxin Contact the prescribing doctor Administer 2 digoxin tablets Document this as a ‘near miss’ in the incident management reporting system Check the patient’s digoxin levels before administering the medication Administer 1/2 a digoxin tablet Hiddentime_taken Hiddenone_hour_step