Aseptic Technique Flashcards
The minimum distance a nonsterile person should remain from a sterile field is:
1 ft
Know safe practices!!!
Know safe practices!!!
Tables are considered sterile:
Only on top
(Edges & sides extending below table level are considered non sterile)
At the end of the case, drapes should be:
Checked for instruments, rolled off, & placed in hamper
If a solution soaks through a sterile drape:
Cover wet area w/impervious sterile drape or towel
Acceptable wrapper for gas sterilization:
Muslin
Paper
Plastic
Which of the following is the only acceptable plastic that can be used for a steam sterilization wrapper?
Polypropylene
All of the following statements regarding muslin wrappers are true:
-Muslin must be laundered, even if unused, in order to rehydrate it
-A 140 thread count of unbleached muslin is used for wrappers
-Muslin is flexible & is easy to handle
Packages wrapped in muslin must have:
Four thickness
(2 layers of double thickness, 140-thread count)
Maximum storage life for a muslin wrapped item in a closed cabinet is:
30 days
(21 days for open shelving storage)
An item dropped on the floor is considered safe only if:
It is enclosed in an impervious material
(Items wrapped in woven materials should not be used)
When using a pour solution:
The contents must be used or discarded after bottle is opened
What is the standard safety margin on package wrappers?
1 inch
When opening a wrapper, the circulator should open the top flap:
Away from self
When the scrub nurse drapes a basin stand which side is opened first?
Side nearest body is opened first
When flipping a sterile item onto the field, the circulator may:
Project item without reaching over the sterile field
Gowns are considered sterile only from:
front from chest to level of sterile field, & the sleeves from elbow to cuffs
An acceptable action when drying the hands and arms after the surgical scrub is to:
Dry thoroughly, cleanest area first
Facts of gowning another person:
-Open hand towel & lay it on person’s hand
-Keep hands outside of gown
-Release gown once the person touches it
Facts regarding scrub procedures:
-It reduces the microbial count
-It leaves an antimicrobial residue
-It removes skin oil
If the scrub nurse needs to change a glove during operation:
The circulator pulls the glove off
Safe criteria regarding the removal of gown & gloves:
-Gown is pulled off inside out
-Gown is untied by circulator
-Gloves are removed inside out
An effective surgical scrub procedure is the:
-Time method
-Brushstroke method
Acceptable practice statements regarding the surgical scrub:
-Fingernails should only reach the tip of fingers
-Nail polish may be worn if freshly applied
-A non-oil based hand lotion may be used to protect the skin
Eyewear, goggles, & or face sheilds should be worn:
On every case
The surgical scrub is:
Mechanical washing & chemical antisepsis of the skin
Scrub techniques ends:
2 in ABOVE the elbow
Apprpriate preparation by the scrub regarding surgical scrub:
-Nail polish may be worn if not chipped
-Fingernails should not reach beyond fingertips
-Skin should be protected with a non-oil-based product
Statement that best describes an effective surgical hand scrub:
Time or number of strokes, hand to elbow sequence
The brushstroke method of scrubbing prescribes. the number of strokes required. Indicate the # for each: nails, fingers, hands (back & palm), & arms
30, 20, 20, 20
Evidence-based practice (EBP) relies on:
Science & Evidence
Standard precautions evolved from a practice called:
Universal Precautions
When water comes in contact with a sterile drape or gown, it can cause:
Strike through contamination
Standards during surgery include:
-Nonsterile team members do not pass between 2 sterile fields
-Movement should be kept to a minimum
-If there is any doubt about sterility, consider it contaminated
When removing sterile attire, arrange the following in proper order: (1) remove gloves, (2) remove gown, (3) remove your mask
2,1,3
remove gown, gloves, then mask
Proper techniques when opening sterile supplies:
-Do not readjust the table drape
-Open the 1st flap away from you on an unwrapped item
-Remember not to lean over a sterile field
When opening supplies for a case, what should be passed directly to the scrub or flipped in an area where they are clearly visible?
Blades
How should sterile personnel pass each other?
Back to back, Front to front
What is know as the center of your sterile field?
Draped patient
If there is a break in sterile technique during the procedure, the STSR should tell:
The person who broke technique
Recommended conditions regarding sterile technique:
-Sterile tables are setup just before operation
-Once sterile packs are open, someone must remain in room to maintain vigilance
-Sterile persons pass each other back to back
Acceptable aseptic techniques:
-Scrub nurse stands on a platform or standing tool
-Scrub nurse keeps hands below shoulder level
-Scrub nurse’s hands are at or above waist level
When a sterile item is hanging or extending over the sterile table edge, the scrub nurse:
Does not touch the part hanging below table level
Is a sterile person sitting or leaning against a non sterile surface considered a break in technique?
Yes
Should sterility be questioned if a sterilized pack is found in a unsterile workroom?
Yes
When handing skin towels to the surgeon, where should the scrub person stand in relation to the surgeon?
On same side of table
According to (CDC) Centers for Disease Control & Prevention guidelines actions by a scrub person prevents wounds & punctures by:
-Using an instrument to remove blades
-Account for each needle as surgeon finishes with it
-Protect sharp blades, edges, & tips
Acceptable techniques for draping a patient:
-Hold the drapes high until directly over the proper area
-Protect gloved hands by cuffing the end of the drape over them
-Place the drapes on a dry area
The procedure to follow if a hair is found on the operative field is to:
Remove it with a clamp and cover over area
If the floor or wall becomes contaminated with organic debris during a case, the circulator:
Decontaminates promptly
