Deck 8: Sterile Technique

Question 1

The patient has just had a tracheostomy tube placed and is expectorating copious amounts of sputum that he coughs forcefully from his tracheostomy tube.The patient also is suspected of having methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)in his sputum.The nurse is preparing to suction the patient to clear his airway.Which of the following will the nurse need to wear if following Standard Precautions? (Select all that apply.)

A) Mask
B) Goggles
C) Gown
D) Sterile gloves
E) None of above

Answer 1

Mask
Goggles
Gown
Sterile gloves

Question 2

A sterile field consists of which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

A) A sterile tray
B) A work surface draped with a sterile towel
C) A table covered by a large sterile drape
D) A patient's bedside table

Answer 2

A sterile tray
A work surface draped with a sterile towel
A table covered by a large sterile drape

Question 3

Nurses commonly use surgical asepsis in which of the following situations? (Select all that apply.)

A) In labor and delivery areas
B) When inserting an intravenous catheter
C) When treating patients with surgical incisions or burns
D) When inserting a urinary catheter
E) None of above

Answer 3

In labor and delivery areas
When inserting an intravenous catheter
When treating patients with surgical incisions or burns
When inserting a urinary catheter

Question 4

When performing sterile aseptic procedures,the nurse must create a _____________ in which objects can be handled with a minimal risk of contamination.

Question 5

When the following concepts are compared,which is most important in maintaining a safe environment by following aseptic principles?

A) Performing a surgical hand scrub
B) Applying a sterile gown
C) Recognizing the importance of following aseptic principles
D) Applying a mask and protective eyewear

Question 6

The nurse is preparing to provide wound care for her patient.She realizes that the most effective way to decrease the bacterial count on her hands is to wash her hands:

A) Using soap and water only
B) Using a nonalcohol antiseptic alone
C) Using a 50% alcohol-based antiseptic alone
D) Using a 60% to 95% alcohol-based antiseptic alone

Question 7

An appropriate technique for the nurse to use when performing sterile gloving is to:

A) Put the glove on the nondominant hand first
B) Interlock the hands after both gloves are applied
C) Pull the cuffs down on both gloves after gloving
D) Grasp the outside cuff of the other glove with the gloved hand

Question 8

A patient that the nurse believes may be at risk for a latex allergy is the individual with:

A) Food allergies
B) Diabetes
C) Arthritis
D) Hypertension

Question 9

An appropriate principle of surgical asepsis is that:

A) The entirety of a sterile package is sterile once it is opened
B) All of the draped table, top to bottom, is considered sterile
C) An object held below the waist is considered contaminated
D) If the sterile barrier field becomes wet, the dry areas are still sterile

Question 10

The nurse is preparing to insert a urinary catheter.The package is dry but shows signs of yellowing inside the plastic wrapper,as if the package was wet at one time.The nurse should:

A) Use the package since it is dry at present
B) Consider the outer package contaminated, but the inner package sterile
C) Discard the entire package as contaminated
D) Open the package and consider the 1-inch border as contaminated

Question 11

When removing the mask following an aseptic procedure,the nurse should:

A) Remove gloves first
B) Untie top strings of mask first
C) Untie bottom strings last
D) Untie top strings and let mask hang

Question 12

The minimum standard for infection control as established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)is _______________.

Question 13

A type I hypersensitivity to latex is evident if the nurse assesses:

A) Localized swelling
B) Skin redness and itching
C) Runny eyes and nose and cough
D) Tachycardia, hypotension, and wheezing

Question 14

The nurse is applying for a job at a local hospital.She wants to look her best for the interview and decides to wear artificial nails.She does this knowing that:

A) Artificial nails are appropriate in the ICU setting as long as the nurse washes her hands frequently
B) Artificial nails can lead to fungal growth under the nail
C) Artificial nails can actually lower the bacterial count on the hands because they cover the natural nail
D) Artificial nails are banned only in areas where patients are critically ill

Question 15

_____________ is one practice designed to make and maintain objects and areas free from pathogenic microorganisms.

Question 16

A patient requires a sterile dressing change for a mid-abdominal surgical incision.An appropriate intervention for the nurse to implement in maintaining sterile asepsis is to:

A) Put sterile gloves on before opening sterile packages
B) Discard items that may have been in contact with the area below waist level
C) Place povidone-iodine bottle well within the sterile field
D) Place sterile items on the very edge of the sterile drape