RN Nursing · Medical and Surgical Asepsis · Practice question
A nurse is wearing gloves in preparation for performing a sterile procedure. Which of the following objects can the nurse touch without breaching sterile technique?( Select all that apply )
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✓
A bottle containing a sterile solution
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The edge of the sterile drape at the base of the field
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The inner wrapping of an item on the sterile field
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✓
One gloved hand with the other gloved hand
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✓
An irrigation syringe on the sterile field
Answer & explanation
Correct: A bottle containing a sterile solution · One gloved hand with the other gloved hand · An irrigation syringe on the sterile field
When performing a sterile procedure with sterile gloves, only objects that are themselves sterile may be touched without breaching sterile technique. A bottle containing sterile solution has a sterile interior and sterile contents; the nurse can pour from it without contaminating the field, and the outside lip remains sterile if handled correctly. Touching one gloved hand with the other gloved hand is acceptable because both hands are covered with sterile gloves and both surfaces are sterile. An irrigation syringe placed on the sterile field is also sterile and can be touched. The edge of the sterile drape at the base of the field is considered contaminated because it hangs below the level of the sterile field or has been in contact with non-sterile surfaces; anything below the level of the sterile field or at its periphery is considered contaminated. The inner wrapping of an item is actually the sterile surface used to deliver the item to the sterile field — the outside of that wrapper is non-sterile and has been handled by ungloved hands, so touching it would contaminate the sterile gloves. Students often confuse the inner and outer wrapping; the key principle is that only surfaces confirmed to be sterile may be touched with sterile gloves.
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