During a sterile procedure, the nurse reaches across the sterile field to pick up an instrument. What is the correct interpretation?

Correct answer: C. The area under the arm is considered contaminated

  • A. The field remains sterile if the sleeve is clean
  • B. Only the instrument becomes contaminated
  • C. The area under the arm is considered contaminated
  • D. The field remains sterile if the action takes less than five seconds

Explanation

Reaching over a sterile field may contaminate the field because the front of the gown and the area below the waist are not considered sterile. A new sterile item or field is needed if contamination occurs.

Submitted by a TestUstad contributor and published by the TestUstad editorial teamLast updated
Report an error

The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.

Prefer email? support@testustad.com

About Perioperative Nursing

Covers preoperative assessment, informed consent, surgical preparation, anaesthesia, intraoperative safety and postoperative recovery. It includes sterile technique, surgical positioning, wound and drain care, pain and nausea management, fluid balance, prevention of infection and recognition of complications such as haemorrhage, atelectasis and shock.

Practise Perioperative Nursing

50 free Perioperative Nursing MCQs from Medical Surgical Nursing, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Discussion

Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.

No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.

Exams that ask Medical Surgical Nursing questions like this

Medical Surgical Nursing is on 8 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

More Perioperative Nursing questions