Deck 22: Surgical Asepsis

Question 1

The nurse established a sterile field for a dressing change.Which location is outside of the boundaries when considering the location of the safety zone for the sterile field?

A)Above waist level
B)Above the nipple line
C)In front of the body
D)Below the draped surface

Answer 1

Below the draped surface

Question 2

The RN teaches a group of LPN/LVNs about sterile technique in long-term care facilities.Which comment by an attending LPN/LVN indicates understanding of the teaching?

A)"Long-term care is a residential setting, so sterile technique is not important."
B)"Residents do not have the need for procedures that require sterile technique."
C)"The rate of infection varies from one facility to another, so no standards are enforced."
D)"The presence of pathogens in a long-term facility is just as concerning as in a hospital."

Answer 2

"The presence of pathogens in a long-term facility is just as concerning as in a hospital."

Question 3

A piece of indicator tape has been applied to the outer wrapper of a set of surgical instruments.Which finding causes the nurse to reject the instruments?

A)The tape shows black marks every half-inch.
B)There are initials and a date written on the tape.
C)A strike-through line is present on the tape.
D)The tape is applied across the final flap.

Answer 3

A strike-through line is present on the tape.

Question 4

The nurse needs to add sterile dressings in peel-open packages to an established sterile field.Which method will the nurse use to prevent contamination of the field or the added items?

A)The nurse opens the sterile package facing the opening toward the nurse.
B)The nurse approaches from the side to drop the items on the sterile field.
C)The nurse drops the additional items onto the edge of the sterile field.
D)The nurse reaches across the sterile field to place the items in the center.

Question 5

The LPN/LVN prepares to assist the RN in teaching a client how to perform in-home self-catheterization.The client asks, "Will you be sending a crate of sterile gloves home with me?" Which reply is correct?

A)"The hospital usually provides a 2-week supply of materials."
B)"The social worker can help you order supplies for delivery."
C)"It depends on what type of insurance coverage you have."
D)"You will not need sterile gloves to do this at home."

Question 6

A newly hired surgical nurse is being oriented.The nurse should expect to see surgery personnel rinse their hands following the performance of a surgery scrub by holding fingertips:

A)Parallel to the elbows.
B)Above the elbows.
C)Below the wrists.
D)Level with the wrists.

Question 7

The nurse is observing as a health-care provider places a central line in a client.The nurse notes that the health-care provider's tie is touching the sterile field.Which action must be taken by the nurse?

A)Refrain from saying anything to avoid stopping the procedure.
B)Inform the health-care provider after the procedure and away from the client.
C)Tell the health-care provider to stop the procedure immediately and why.
D)Refrain from using contaminated items that were touched by the tie.

Question 8

The nursing staff educator observes a nurse who collects and prepares sterile supplies for a procedure.Which behavior indicates to the staff educator that additional teaching is needed?

A)The nurse checks the expiration date on each pack of supplies.
B)The nurse rejects packs with dark hash marks on the sterilization tape.
C)The nurse chooses sterile gloves in a size that fits properly.
D)The nurse uses a bedside table that is above waist level.

Question 9

The RN is observing an LPN/LVN perform a sterile procedure.Which observed behavior requires the RN to intervene?

A)The LPN/LVN turns away from the sterile field.
B)The LPN/LVN drops items into the trash can in order to discard them.
C)The LPN/LVN opens the first flap of the sterile pack away from the body.
D)The LPN/LVN keeps sterile, gloved hands below eye level and above the waist.

Question 10

The nurse is preparing a sterile field using a drape provided inside a sterile pack.Which area of the sterile drape can the nurse touch in order to maintain sterility?

A)The anterior surface of the drape
B)The outer 1-inch border of the drape
C)The posterior aspect of the drape
D)The bottom inner corners of the drape

Question 11

In order to develop a sterile conscience, the nurse needs to be aware of the conditions that impact sterility.Which equation is helpful to the nurse?

A)Sterile + sterile = unsterile
B)Unsterile + unsterile = sterile
C)Unsterile + sterile = sterile
D)Sterile + sterile = sterile

Question 12

The hospital is focusing on cost containment related to client care.The nurse recognizes that which situation requires medical asepsis?

A)Inserting a catheter into the urinary bladder
B)Changing linens for a client with infection
C)Establishing an intravenous (IV)line
D)Administering subcutaneous medication

Question 13

The nurse prepares to perform a sterile dressing change.Which finding will cause the most concern for the nurse when gathering supplies?

A)A sterile unopened package of 4*4s are in the client's room
B)A partial bottle of sterile saline is open in the client's room
C)A wrapper on a package of sterile gloves has dry water marks
D)A mask with a face protection shield is unavailable

Question 14

The nurse understands the importance of sterile technique during certain client care procedures.Which procedure will require sterile technique?

A)Subcutaneous injection given
B)Oral medication administration
C)Client contact lens placement
D)Oxygen administration

Question 15

The nurse is deciding about how to determine what size of sterile gloves fit properly.Which information will help the nurse make a correct decision?

A)The gloves should fit closely to the skin.
B)There should be additional space at the fingertips.
C)Wrinkles should be noted across the palm of the hand.
D)Making a fist will cause the glove to lift from the back of the hand.

Question 16

The newly hired surgery nurse is preparing to open a sterile pack for the first time.Which principle will the nurse apply to maintain the sterile field?

A)The right-side flap of the sterile pack is opened first.
B)The pack is turned so the first flap faces the nurse's body.
C)The pack is placed unopened on top of a surgery table.
D)The nurse touches the inner surface of the inner wrapper.

Question 17

The circulating nurse is assisting in the operating room and is asked to open a sterile pack and give the contents to the surgeon.Which action should the nurse perform?

A)Apply sterile gloves before opening the sterile pack.
B)Open the sterile pack and place the contents on the instrument tray.
C)Peel open the sterile pack and drop contents into the surgeon's hand.
D)Hold the contents by the opened outer wrapper for the surgeon to grasp.

Question 18

A surgery technician is using a liquid to sterilize some rubber-based catheters for urological procedures.Which method of sterilization does the nurse recognize?

A)Ionizing radiation
B)Gaseous disinfection
C)Autoclaving
D)Chemical disinfection

Question 19

The surgery nurse knows that a surgical hand scrub should be performed for a minimum of which time frame?

A)30 seconds
B)2 minutes
C)3 minutes
D)10 minutes

Question 20

A nurse requires supplies and equipment that have been prepared for surgery.Which preparation method does the nurse recognize as being inadequate for surgical asepsis?

A)Ionizing radiation
B)Ultrasound
C)Autoclaving
D)Chemical disinfection

Question 21

The nurse puts on a pair of sterile gloves.Which situation would require the nurse to obtain a different set of sterile gloves? Select all that apply.

A)A tear is noted on the left ring finger.
B)The gloves are wrinkled in the palm.
C)The package is wet from water on the bedside table.
D)One glove needs to be adjusted by the other gloved hand.
E)The package expiration date is a week away.

Question 22

The nurse is aware that specific areas of the hospital are considered restricted in order to reduce the introduction of pathogens.Which areas within a hospital are commonly restricted? Select all that apply.

A)Cardiac unit
B)Radiology unit
C)Neonatal unit
D)Intensive care unit
E)Surgical suite

Question 23

The experienced nurse in an intensive care unit is orienting a new nurse.Which action by the new nurse requires the experienced nurse to intervene immediately? Select all that apply.

A)The new nurse rearranges items in a sterile pack before donning gloves.
B)The new nurse pushes the trash can closer to the bedside with a foot.
C)The new nurse turns toward the client, with the back toward the sterile field
D)The new nurse keeps sterile, gloved hands below eye level and above the waist.
E)The new nurse places a sterile pack with the first flap facing toward the right.

Question 24

The nurse manager recognizes that a nurse requires further teaching about infection prevention when which comment is made by the nurse?

A)"Surgical asepsis is based on maintaining a clean client environment."
B)"Surgical asepsis requires the use of sterile supplies and equipment."
C)"Sterile technique prevents contamination during invasive procedures."
D)"Sterile technique is used when handling needles, syringes, and lancets."

Question 25

The surgical scrub nurse prefers to don the sterile gown and gloves using the closed method.Which step of this process is correct? Select all that apply.

A)Open the sterile glove wrapper using the hands outside the gown sleeves.
B)Apply the dominant hand glove first using the nondominant hand in the sleeve.
C)Pick up the sterile gown by the inner neckline and avoid unsterile surfaces.
D)Put the first glove cuff over the gown cuff, palm up, fingers toward the nurse.
E)Complete a surgical hand scrub before donning a sterile gown and gloves.