What would you do?
The nurse drops sterile forceps on the floor. She cleans them off with normal saline and places them back on the sterile field. What should have been done in this situation to keep the field from being contaminated?
The nurse should have discarded of the forceps since they were considered dirty after dropping to the floor. She should have stayed with the sterile field and request for a new set of forceps.
All items that enter the sterile field must be sterile.
True
When is it appropriate to reach over the sterile field?
Never
What is another name for sterile technique?
Surgical asepsis
You notice that a physician has just scratched their knee while wearing sterile gloves. What should be done?
Inform the physician that they broke sterile technique. They must remove the old gloves and apply a new pair of sterile gloves. The hands can not fall below the waist.
Talking and laughing should be kept to a minimum when around the sterile field
True; talking and laughing increases the risk of contamination.
What is the most common healthcare-associated infections?
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), often linked to urinary catheters (CAUTI)
What does moisture do to a sterile field?
Contaminates the area it touches
What does "strike through" mean?
When the sterile field becomes contaminated because liquids have permeated it.
There is no more room on the sterile field for other items to be included. The nurse asks the patient to hold the items. What should be done in this situation?
The nurse should not ask the patient to hold any items that belong on the sterile field. The items are now considered contaminated. Instead, the nurse could have had an additional sterile field set up.
Prolonged exposure to air reduces the chances of the sterile field from becoming contaminated.
False; prolonged exposure increases the chances of the sterile field being contaminated.
How many inches around the sterile field is considered contaminated?
One inch
After donning sterile gloves, how should your hands be positioned when not in use?
In the front of your torso with the hands closed together
You notice that the physician reaches over the sterile field to grab another box of gauze. He states a new sterile field is not necessary because he is almost done with the procedure. What should be done to adhere to sterile technique?
It does not matter if the procedure is almost completed. Sterile technique was broken and puts the patient at risk for developing an HAI. A new sterile field should be created.
Anything below the bellybutton is considered not sterile.
False; Anything below waist level is considered not sterile.
Is sterile technique in the operating room more important than sterile technique at the bedside?
No, sterile technique is important in any situation that requires it. Appropriately applying it can reduce a patient's risk for developing an HAI.
How many minutes pass before you start to consider the sterile field contaminated?
15-20 minutes
If fluid flows in the direction of gravity, how should forceps be held to avoid contamination?
The tips of the forceps should be pointing down.
The nurse is unsure if another nurse may have touched the sterile field without sterile gloves. What should be done in this situation?
The nurse should replace the sterile field any time there is doubt; the sterile field is considered contaminated.
Handwashing is one of the most effective preventative measures for reducing HAI's. Handwashing should be performed before every sterile procedure.
True
Name at least three ways to prevent HAIs?
Limit the use of indwelling urinary catheters whenever possible.
Strict hand hygiene/aseptic technique
Proper sterilization of equipment
The nurse grabs a bottle of sterile water and places it on the sterile field. Is this appropriate? If not, explain why.
This is not appropriate. Although the contents in the bottle is considered sterile, the bottle itself is not considered sterile. Only sterile items can be placed on the sterile field.
When applying sterile gloves, which hand should be gloved first?
The dominant hand.