Sterile Field Quiz: Sterile Or Broken?

1. Which item is appropriate to place on a sterile field?

A pen from the nurse's pocket

A sterile instrument from an opened package

The nurse's hand without a glove

A used alcohol pad

2. A nurse uses sterile technique to set up a field but does not document the time. This is a break in:

Aseptic protocol

Field integrity

Infection control practices

Accountability standards

3. Which practice best supports sterile field maintenance during patient care?

Keeping the field uncovered for easy access

Establishing the field just before use

Allowing visitors to observe closely

Using non-sterile gloves for setup

4. A nurse opens a sterile package and notices the seal appears compromised. What action should be taken?

Use the contents if they look clean

Discard the package and obtain a new one

Wipe the contents with alcohol

Use only the center of the package

5. Which of the following indicates a break in sterile field maintenance?

Sterile gloves touching a sterile instrument

Non-sterile skin touching the sterile field

Sterile solution poured into a sterile container

Sterile gauze placed on a sterile drape

6. A sterile drape becomes wet from non-sterile water. What should the nurse do?

Continue using the drape

Replace the drape immediately

Allow it to air dry

Cover it with another drape

7. A nurse's sleeve brushes the edge of a sterile field during a procedure. The nurse did not notice. Should the field be considered contaminated?

No, if unnoticed it did not happen

Yes, assume contamination occurred

A sterile field should be considered contaminated if a nurse's sleeve brushes its edge, regardless of whether the nurse noticed it. Sterile technique requires that any contact with a non-sterile object or area be treated as contamination to help prevent infection. Therefore, the correct action is to assume contamination occurred and re-establish the sterile field before continuing the procedure.

Explanation

A sterile field should be considered contaminated if a nurse's sleeve brushes its edge, regardless of whether the nurse noticed it. Sterile technique requires that any contact with a non-sterile object or area be treated as contamination to help prevent infection. Therefore, the correct action is to assume contamination occurred and re-establish the sterile field before continuing the procedure.

Submit

9. Which action maintains a sterile field during a procedure?

Keeping hands at waist level above the field

Touching the edges of sterile packages

Keeping the field in the nurse's line of sight

Talking over the sterile field

Submit

12. During a sterile procedure, a family member asks a question and the nurse turns to answer while maintaining the sterile field. Is this acceptable?

Yes, the nurse can multitask

No, visual contact must be maintained

13. A nurse opens a sterile package and places it on a clean, non-sterile table. The outer 1 inch border of the package is considered contaminated. Is the sterile field maintained?

Yes, the field is sterile

No, the field is broken

14. A nurse coughs while standing near an open sterile field. The field is 3 feet away. Is contamination likely?

No, the distance prevents contamination

Yes, respiratory droplets can reach the field

15. A patient coughs directly onto an open sterile field. Is the field still considered sterile?

Yes, one cough is minimal

No, respiratory droplets contaminate the field

16. A sterile field is left unattended for 10 minutes in an open patient room. Should it be considered contaminated?

No, brief periods are acceptable

Yes, unmonitored fields are assumed contaminated

Submit

18. A nurse reaches across a sterile field to grab sterile gauze on the far side. Is the sterile field still intact?

Yes, reaching across is acceptable

No, the field is compromised

19. During a sterile procedure, a nurse's mask slips below the nose. Does this compromise the sterile field?

No, the mask is not directly over the field

Yes, respiratory droplets can contaminate the field

20. During a sterile dressing change, a sterile glove touches the patient's arm above the surgical site. What is the status of the sterile field?

Sterile field is maintained

Sterile field is contaminated

Sterile Field Quiz: Sterile or Broken?

1. Which item is appropriate to place on a sterile field?

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. A nurse uses sterile technique to set up a field but does not document the time. This is a break in:

3. Which practice best supports sterile field maintenance during patient care?

4. A nurse opens a sterile package and notices the seal appears compromised. What action should be taken?

5. Which of the following indicates a break in sterile field maintenance?

6. A sterile drape becomes wet from non-sterile water. What should the nurse do?

7. A nurse's sleeve brushes the edge of a sterile field during a procedure. The nurse did not notice. Should the field be considered contaminated?

8. Sterile fields should be established no more than ____ hours before use to maintain integrity.

9. Which action maintains a sterile field during a procedure?

10. Sterile fields should be monitored continuously to prevent contamination from ____.

11. A sterile field is considered broken if a non-sterile object is held ____ inches above it.

12. During a sterile procedure, a family member asks a question and the nurse turns to answer while maintaining the sterile field. Is this acceptable?

13. A nurse opens a sterile package and places it on a clean, non-sterile table. The outer 1 inch border of the package is considered contaminated. Is the sterile field maintained?

14. A nurse coughs while standing near an open sterile field. The field is 3 feet away. Is contamination likely?

15. A patient coughs directly onto an open sterile field. Is the field still considered sterile?

16. A sterile field is left unattended for 10 minutes in an open patient room. Should it be considered contaminated?

17. The minimum safe distance from a sterile field for a non-sterile person is ____ feet.

18. A nurse reaches across a sterile field to grab sterile gauze on the far side. Is the sterile field still intact?

19. During a sterile procedure, a nurse's mask slips below the nose. Does this compromise the sterile field?

20. During a sterile dressing change, a sterile glove touches the patient's arm above the surgical site. What is the status of the sterile field?