Deck 10: Sterile Technique

Question 1

A person who is sterile drops his or her hands below the level of the waist. What action by the nurse in the Operating Room is best?

A) Tell the person he or she is not sterile anymore.
B) Have an assistant set up another sterile field.
C) Document the incident in the client's chart.
D) Nothing; there is nothing wrong with this practice.

Answer 1

Tell the person he or she is not sterile anymore.

Question 2

Which action performed by a new nurse when putting on sterile gloves would require the precepting nurse to intervene?

A) Puts glove on dominant hand first
B) Touches only the cuff of the first glove with ungloved hand
C) Picks second glove up by the cuff
D) Adjusts the gloves by picking at the palms

Answer 2

Picks second glove up by the cuff

Question 3

When adding objects to a sterile field, what action does the nurse take?

A) Peel the wrapper open, invert the package, and drop the item on the sterile field.
B) Open items as close to the sterile field as possible to avoid contamination.
C) Peel open the outer package and lay the item on the sterile field to open later.
D) Once a sterile field is set, no more items can be introduced to it.

Answer 3

Peel the wrapper open, invert the package, and drop the item on the sterile field.

Question 4

When pouring a liquid onto a container on a sterile field, which action by the student nurse requires intervention by the supervising nurse?

A) Holds container with label facing him- or herself
B) Puts on sterile gloves prior to opening bottle of liquid
C) Approaches the sterile field from the same side as the container
D) Does not allow the liquid to splash when pouring it

Question 5

A nurse is entering an operating room a few minutes after the procedure has begun. What action must the nurse take prior to entering?

A) Pull the mask up over the face
B) Tuck jewelry under the scrubs
C) Ensure she is not wearing nail polish
D) Perform a hand scrub with soaped brush

Question 6

What does the student learn to do in assisted closed gloving?

A) Helps another team member open the package of gloves
B) Helps a team member only with changing contaminated gloves
C) Helps a team member put on the gloves by holding them open
D) Observes a team member gloving to "close the loop" of quality control

Question 7

What action by the nurse performing a surgical handrub is appropriate?

A) Complete the rub first, then wash with antimicrobial soap.
B) Complete the handrub then open the pack of sterile gloves.
C) Apply the handrub to the dominant hand and arm before the nondominant hand and arm.
D) Perform the handrub prior to donning the cap and gown.

Question 8

After the surgical hand scrub, the nurse holds his or her hands up in the air away from the body. What is the rationale for this action?

A) Allows the air to help dry the hands and arms
B) Signals to team members you have completed your scrub
C) Makes it easier for other team members to dry your skin
D) Keeps water from running from dirty (elbows) to clean (hands)

Question 9

Which action by the surgical nurse who is putting on a sterile gown requires remediation from the charge nurse?

A) Steps back from the work space to open the gown
B) Grasps the inside of the gown near the neck
C) Slides the gown on and pulls the cuffs up to the wrist
D) Turns so the sterile waist tie wraps around the body

Question 10

The manager of the surgical unit is investigating different antiseptic agents and wants one with persistent activity. Which disinfectant would be the best choice?

A) An alcohol-based solution
B) Iodine
C) Chloroxylenol
D) Chlorhexidine gluconate with alcohol

Question 11

The new operating room nurse learns that which is a drawback to chlorhexidine gluconate with alcohol?

A) Many people are allergic to it.
B) It is flammable.
C) It takes a long time to be effective.
D) Does not penetrate organic material.

Question 12

A new nurse is taught to double-glove. What response does the precepting nurse give when the new nurse asks for a rationale for the practice?

A) "It's required now by the CDC."
B) "Two pairs of gloves are better than one."
C) "This will protect you better."
D) "They can cover a tiny hole in the first pair of gloves."

Question 13

The operating room nurse manager has removed the surgical nail brushes from the scrub area of the OR. When asked for a rationale, which response is best?

A) They cause too much skin irritation.
B) They do not decrease bacterial counts
C) They are an unnecessary expense.
D) They cause too many injuries.

Question 14

What does the operating nurse understand about persistent activity?

A) Microbes that can continue their activity despite antiseptic application
B) Drawing water or other liquid from a source during surgery
C) The need for repeated applications of soap and water
D) The ability to continue to provide antimicrobial activity after application

Question 15

What was Lord Joseph Lister's contribution to surgical asepsis?

A) Discovered penicillin
B) Propagated knowledge of germ theory
C) Created an antiseptic for instruments and wounds
D) Invented sterile technique

Question 16

During an operation, the surgeon reaches across the sterile field to quickly grab an instrument. What action does the nurse take?

A) Nothing; this is standard procedure
B) Tells the surgeon to regown and reglove
C) Informs the surgeon that sterile field was broken
D) Contacts the charge nurse for advice

Question 17

What principle of sterile gowning does the student learn? (Select all that apply.)

A) The back of the surgical gown is not sterile.
B) The front of the gown is sterile from table height to shoulders.
C) All of the sleeves of the gown are considered sterile.
D) The neckline of the gown is not considered sterile.
E) The armpits of the gown are sterile since they are below the shoulders.

Question 18

The student nurse doing a rotation in the operating room learns about common ways of contaminating the sterile field. Which of these is included? (Select all that apply.)

A) Failing to check sterility indicators
B) Not noticing tears in the packaging
C) Fainting and falling onto the table
D) Improperly delivering liquids on to the field
E) Not seeing soaked-through spots

Question 19

The nursing student asks why waterless, antimicrobial alcohol-based surgical handrubs are favored over the traditional hand scrub prior to surgery. What responses by the nurse are best? (Select all that apply.)

A) They are more effective than soap and water.
B) They reduce the skin bacteria count immediately.
C) Their effects can last up to 6 hours.
D) They reduce the chance of recontamination by water taps.
E) They are standardized across all manufacturers.

Question 20

Which steps, performed by a nursing student opening a sterile pack, are correct? (Select all that apply.)

A) Sets up a clean work surface at waist height
B) Examines the sterile pack to ensure sterility
C) Positions the pack so the top flap opens towards him- or herself
D) Uses the left hand to pull the left flap and lay it flat
E) Covers the sterile field with a sterile drape in case of any delays

Question 21

Which activities require sterile technique? (Select all that apply.)

A) Inserting an IV catheter
B) Performing surgery
C) Administering medications
D) Placing an NG tube
E) Inserting a bladder catheter

Question 22

Which of the following does the student learn are principles of sterile technique? (Select all that apply.)

A) Sterile only touches sterile.
B) The sterile field is monitored frequently.
C) A wet sterile barrier is no longer sterile.
D) Always face the sterile field.
E) Do not reach over a sterile field.

Question 23

Which of the following are used in sterilization? (Select all that apply.)

A) High heat
B) Steam
C) Disinfectants
D) Isopropyl alcohol
E) Formaldehyde

Question 24

What are the goals of sterile technique? (Select all that apply.)

A) Prevent healthcare-associated infections.
B) Keep sterile items sterile.
C) Maintain cleanliness.
D) Minimize contamination.
E) Reduce staff exposures.