Question

The nurse needs to place gauze from a wrapped item into the sterile field. Which action does the nurse take?

A.) Lay the item in an open package on the 1-in (2.5-cm) border.
B.) Drop the item from 6 in (15 cm) above the sterile field.
C.) Extend the sterile field by laying the open package beside it.
D.) Remove the gauze from the package with one sterile hand.

Answer 1

The nurse should drop the gauze from 6 inches above the sterile field to avoid contamination and maintain aseptic technique.

Step-by-step explanation:

When placing gauze from a wrapped item into the sterile field, the nurse should take action B.) Drop the item from 6 in (15 cm) above the sterile field. This ensures that the gauze does not touch the edges of the wrapper, which are not considered sterile, and minimizes the risk of contamination. It is essential to maintain the aseptic technique throughout the procedure to prevent infection or the introduction of pathogens.