Surgical Hand Hygiene Protocol

During surgical hand hygiene using an alcohol-based antiseptic, why is it important to wash hands with soap and water for 15-30 seconds initially?

When drying hands after surgical hand hygiene, it's acceptable to dry from the least clean area to the cleanest area, as long as you are using a sterile towel.

After cleaning under the nails with a nail pick during surgical hand hygiene using an alcohol-based antiseptic, what is the next immediate step?

After applying an alcohol-based antiseptic during surgical hand hygiene, allow hands to ______ dry before applying sterile gloves.

Match the following steps of surgical hand hygiene with their rationale:

During the process of drying hands with a sterile towel, what movement should be employed and why?

When using an alcohol-based antiseptic for surgical hand hygiene, it is acceptable to skip the initial hand washing with soap and water if no visible dirt is present.

Why is it important to lean forward slightly when picking up a sterile towel during surgical hand hygiene?

In the absence of a scrub nurse to assist, what is the correct procedure for picking up a sterile gown?

It is acceptable for the staff member tying the sterile gown to touch the front of the gown as long as they avoid touching the areas near the surgical site.

Why is it important to don surgical attire such as caps, shoe covers, eyewear, and masks prior to performing surgical hand hygiene?

After donning a sterile gown, fingers should remain inside the sleeves to facilitate ______ gloving.

Match each step of donning a sterile gown with its rationale:

Why is it important for a nurse to don a sterile gown before assisting with sterile procedures in the operating room?

When opening a sterile package, it is permissible to reach over the sterile field if you are wearing sterile gloves.

When pouring a sterile solution onto a sterile field, why should the bottle's label be held in the palm of the hand?

When opening sterile packages, one should use the inner surface of the package cover (except the ______ border) as a sterile field to handle other sterile items.

Match the method of gloving with the appropriate clinical setting or procedure type:

Which of the following actions would compromise the sterility of a sterile field when pouring a sterile solution?

When opening a sterile package, it's acceptable to allow the flaps to spring back over the sterile contents if you are in a rush.

Besides preventing transmission of microorganisms, what other factor is important to consider when selecting sterile gloves?

Which of the following actions would compromise the sterility of the gloving procedure and require you to start over with a new set sterile gloves?

It is acceptable to use sterile gloves from a package that was found open, as long as the gloves themselves appear untouched and clean.

Why is it important to glove the dominant hand first when performing open sterile gloving?

When opening the inner glove package, you should keep the gloves on the wrapper's ______ surface to maintain sterility.

Match each action with its corresponding rationale in the sterile gloving procedure:

Which factor primarily determines the selection of appropriate transmission-based precautions?

A single pair of non-sterile gloves is sufficient when handling sharp instruments in an isolation room.

Besides an N-95 respirator, what is another respiratory protection option for healthcare workers in contact with patients with airborne infections, especially if proper fit cannot be achieved with an N-95?

A break in technique, when working with a sterile field or with sterile equipment, results in ______.

Match the following isolation precautions with the corresponding diseases or conditions:

Why is it crucial to educate patients with AFB (acid-fast bacillus) about transmission methods?

Standard surgical masks offer sufficient protection against airborne droplet nuclei, like those produced by a patient with TB.

What specific type of mask must be worn before entering the room of a patient under AFB isolation precautions?

Surgical asepsis is the complete removal of all ______, including spores, from an object.

What should a nurse do immediately after noticing a break in sterile technique?

Why is it important to inspect hands for abrasions, cuts, or open lesions before performing surgical hand hygiene?

During surgical hand hygiene, it is acceptable to allow water to run from the elbows down to the fingertips to ensure thorough rinsing.

During surgical hand hygiene using the traditional method, why should hands be kept elevated above the elbows?

When performing surgical hand hygiene, after cleaning under the nails with a nail pick, the pick should be ______ after use.

During the traditional method of surgical hand hygiene, when should you turn off the water to prevent accidental recontamination?

It is acceptable to use the same sponge for scrubbing both arms during surgical hand hygiene to conserve resources.

Describe the proper technique for scrubbing each area of the hands and arms during surgical hand hygiene, including the number of strokes for different areas, the arm thirds and the total scrub time.

Match the following actions with their rationale during surgical hand hygiene:

Under which of the following circumstances is a sterile object considered contaminated, according to the principles of sterile technique?

Why is it crucial to prepare a sterile field immediately before a planned procedure?

Sterile objects held below waist level are considered sterile as long as they haven't touched anything.

A sterile field is safe to leave unattended as long as it is within the range of vision.

What is the primary purpose of using antiseptics like alcohol or CHG on human tissue prior to sterile procedures?

What action should be taken if a tear or break is found in the covering of a sterile object?

According to sterile technique, a sterile object or field becomes contaminated by ______ exposure to air.

The term 'bacteriostatic' refers to a solution that prevents microorganisms from ______ or ______.

Match the action with the rationale for preparing a sterile field:

Match each scenario with its corresponding contamination outcome according to sterile technique:

Why is it important for patients to avoid sudden movements during a surgical aseptic procedure?

Why is it important to discard the outer cover of a sterile drape after lifting the drape from its packaging?

It is acceptable to touch sterile supplies with ungloved hands as long as you have washed them thoroughly.

When placing a sterile drape, it is acceptable to reach over the intended work surface if necessary to ensure proper placement.

What is the recommended border around the edge of a sterile drape that should be considered contaminated?

What is the primary difference between cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization?

When performing a surgical hand scrub, hands should be held ______ to permit downward water flow, preventing contamination.

In the context of infection control, any object that comes into contact with potentially infectious material is considered ______.

What is the main purpose of closed gloving technique?

Which of the following actions poses the HIGHEST risk of contaminating a sterile field?

What is the primary goal of performing a surgical hand scrub?

Using sterile gloves allows a nurse to touch any surface, sterile or non-sterile, without compromising the sterility of the gloves or the sterile field.

According to best practices, where should sterile items be stored to maintain their integrity until use?

During sterilization, chemical tapes change ______ signaling that the sterilization process was successful; failure to change indicates it was not.

Match the scenario with the appropriate action regarding a sterile package:

When pouring sterile solutions, which part of the bottle is considered sterile?

Why is it important to assemble all equipment and supplies before beginning a sterile procedure?

According to guidelines, sterile items are safe to use indefinitely as long as the packaging remains intact and dry.

When collecting a blood culture specimen, why is it recommended to perform venipuncture at two different sites?

When collecting a stool specimen, it is acceptable to collect the sample directly from the toilet bowl to ensure a representative sample.

Describe the critical steps in the blood culture collection process that minimize contamination and ensure accurate results.

When collecting a urine specimen from a patient with an indwelling urinary catheter, it is essential to use an ______ swab pad, syringe, and needle to collect specimens if the patient has an indwelling urinary catheter.

Match each specimen type with the appropriate collection consideration:

In which of the following scenarios is surgical asepsis least critical?

When performing surgical hand hygiene, it is acceptable to use regular hand soap if surgical scrub solutions are unavailable

Describe the key differences in the aseptic techniques used in an operating room versus at a patient's bedside during a dressing change.

When inserting IV lines and administering injections, the nurse avoids contamination of sterile equipment by not talking unnecessarily over it or touching the sterile items with nurses' ______ gloves.

Which of the following actions is most important to ensure proper handling and transport of collected specimens?