Deck 22: Surgical Asepsis

Question 1

When adding items to a sterile field, a nurse correctly

A) Opens the sterile package toward himself or herself.
B) Comes in from the side to drop the items on the sterile field.
C) Drops the items onto the side of the sterile field.
D) Reaches across the field to place the items in the center.

Answer 1

Comes in from the side to drop the items on the sterile field.

Question 2

Sterile gloves are considered to be an appropriate size if

A) They fit closely to the skin.
B) There is some additional space at the end of the fingertip.
C) Wrinkles are noted across the palm of the hand.
D) Bowing is seen across the back of the hand.

Answer 2

They fit closely to the skin.

Question 3

An instructor teaches a group of nursing students about sterile technique in long-term care facilities. A student demonstrates understanding by saying:

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 widely from one facility to another, so no standards are enforced."
D) "The variety and number of pathogens in a nursing home is just as concerning as it is in a hospital setting."

Answer 3

"The variety and number of pathogens in a nursing home is just as concerning as it is in a hospital setting."

Question 4

Sterile technique would be required for

A) Subcutaneous injection.
B) Oral medication.
C) Eye drop administration.
D) Oxygen administration.

Question 5

A student nurse is observing surgery. During a surgical scrub, the student expects to see operating room personnel rinse their hands with their

A) Fingertips parallel to their elbows.
B) Fingertips above their elbows.
C) Fingertips below their wrists.
D) Fingertips level with their wrists.

Question 6

Which of the following is not identified as a boundary when establishing the safety zone?

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

Question 7

When a nurse is preparing a sterile field using a drape provided in a sterile pack, he or she would touch

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 top inner corners of the drape.

Question 8

A nurse requires supplies and equipment that have been prepared for surgical asepsis. The nurse intervenes when he or she realizes that the supplies were prepared using

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

Question 9

An intervention by a nurse who is gathering gauze 4 $\times$ 4s, saline, and gloves for a dressing change would be required if

A) Unopened sterile 4 $\times$ 4s are already in the patient's room.
B) The bottle of sterile saline was opened 3 days ago.
C) The glove packaging is dry.
D) The only available masks have eye protection shields.

Question 10

A student nurse is preparing to open a sterile pack for the first time. The student demonstrates understanding when he or she

A) Opens the right-side flap first.
B) Turns the pack so that the first flap faces his or her body.
C) Places the pack on a clean surface.
D) Touches only the inner surface of the inner wrapper.

Question 11

A nurse prepares to teach a patient how to perform in-home self-catheterization. The patient asks, "Will you be sending a crate of sterile gloves home with me?" The best response by the nurse is:

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

Question 12

A nurse is observing as a medical student places a central line. The nurse notes that the medical student's tie is touching the sterile field. The best action by the nurse is to

A) Refrain from saying anything because the sterile field may not really be contaminated.
B) Wait until the procedure is over to inform the medical student that his tie brushed the sterile field.
C) Ask the medical student to stop the procedure immediately.
D) Suggest that the medical student not touch that side of the field.

Question 13

A piece of indicator tape has been applied to the outer wrapper of a set of surgical instruments. A nurse rejects the instruments on noticing

A) That the indicator tape shows black marks every half-inch.
B) Someone's initials on the tape.
C) A strike-through line.
D) That the tape is applied across the final flap.

Question 14

A surgical hand scrub should be performed for a minimum of

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

Question 15

Which of the following equations is true?

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

Question 16

A circulating nurse is assisting in the operating room. She is asked to open a sterile pack of supplies and give it to the surgeon. The nurse correctly

A) Applies sterile gloves before opening the pack and handing it to the surgeon.
B) Unwraps the pack and places it on the instrument tray.
C) Peels open the packing toward herself and drops it into the surgeon's hand.
D) Holds the pack through the opened outer wrapper and allows the surgeon to grasp the pack.

Question 17

Sterile technique is not necessary when

A) Inserting a catheter into the bladder (hospital setting).
B) Taking standard precautions.
C) Inserting an intravenous (IV) needle into the vein.
D) Injecting medications into subcutaneous tissue.

Question 18

A technician is using Cidex to sterilize some rubber-based catheters for urological procedures. A nurse identifies this sterilization method as

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

Question 19

A nursing instructor observes as a student collects and prepares sterile materials for a procedure. The instructor recognizes that further teaching is necessary when

A) The student checks the expiration date on the pack.
B) The sterilization tape has dark hash marks.
C) The student chooses sterile gloves in the correct size.
D) The student uses a nightstand that is lower than the waist level.

Question 20

While observing a student perform a sterile procedure, an instructor should immediately intervene if

A) The student turns his or her back to the sterile field to discard coverings.
B) The student drops items into the trash can to discard them.
C) The student opens the first flap of the sterile pack away from his or her body.
D) The student keeps his or her sterile, gloved hands below eye level.

Question 21

A student nurse puts on a pair of sterile gloves. He or she would need to obtain or use a different set of sterile gloves under which of the following circumstances?

A) A tear is noted on the left ring finger.
B) The gloves are a size 7, and the student wears a different size.
C) The packaging becomes wet from water on the patient's bedside table.
D) One of the gloves needs to be adjusted to fit well.
E) The expiration date on the package is next week.

Question 22

Which of the following are areas that are generally restricted within a hospital to reduce the introduction of pathogens?

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

Question 23

Before entering the surgical anteroom, which of the following should a nurse already be wearing?

A) Shoe covers
B) Sterile gloves
C) Head cover
D) Mask
E) Sterile gown

Question 24

When a nurse uses surgical asepsis, he uses supplies and equipment that have been disinfected by solutions that kill pathogens or that have been ____________________ using steam under pressure, gas, or radiation that kills all pathogens and their spores.

Question 25

A ____________________ nurse assists throughout a surgery by handing the physician instruments, holding retractors, and performing other tasks that require sterile garb.

Question 26

When donning a sterile gown and gloves using the closed method, it is correct for a nurse to do which of the following?

A) Open the sterile glove wrapper with his or her hands inside the gown sleeves.
B) Tuck the gown cuffs over the gloves.
C) Pick up the sterile gown by the sleeves.
D) Have the glove cuffs cover the gown cuffs.
E) Already have completed a surgical hand scrub.

Question 27

Which of the following nursing actions requires the use of sterile technique?

A) Injecting medication into subcutaneous tissue
B) Administering intravenous (IV) medication
C) Inserting a catheter in a hospital setting
D) The delivery of babies
E) Caring for a burn victim

Question 28

A nurse should intervene under which of the following circumstances?

A) A student nurse reaching into a sterile pack with his or her bare hands
B) A colleague moving the trash can with his or her foot so that it is closer to the bedside
C) A nurse turning his or her back toward the sterile field
D) A nurse keeping his or her sterile, gloved hands below eye level
E) A student nurse placing a sterile pack with the first flap facing the right

Question 29

An instructor recognizes that a student requires further teaching about surgical asepsis when the student says:

A) "Maintaining a clean patient environment is an important aspect of surgical asepsis."
B) "Surgical asepsis requires the use of sterile supplies and equipment."
C) "Surgical asepsis prevents contamination during invasive procedures."
D) "I should follow a sterile technique when handling needles, syringes, and lancets."

Question 30

The potential presence of pathogens on a sterile field or sterile object because of contact with an unsterile surface is called ____________________.

Question 31

An area free from all microorganisms where additional sterile items can be placed until they are ready for use is referred to as a(n) ____________________.
Multiple Response
Identify one or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.

Question 32

A ____________________ nurse assists in the operating room but is not "scrubbed in" on the case so that he or she may leave the operating suite to obtain needed items.