Final answer:
The statement in the question is false because chemical sterilants like hydrogen peroxide and iodophors provide high-level disinfection, not sterilization. True sterilization requires the elimination of all microbial life, which is achieved through methods like moist heat or ethylene oxide gas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is false. While the nurse does use chemical sterilants such as hydrogen peroxide, iodophors, phenolics, and quaternary ammonium compounds, these are more correctly defined as high-level disinfectants rather than sterilants. While they are highly effective at killing vegetative cells, fungi, and viruses, they do not achieve complete sterilization since some microbial life, particularly endospores, may survive. Sterilization, on the other hand, is achieved using methods like moist heat (i.e., steam under pressure), which is more effective than dry heat, or ethylene oxide gas, which can penetrate surfaces and materials that are heat-sensitive. Therefore, the use of these chemical substances can lead to high-level disinfection but should not be confused with sterilization methods such as moist heat and ethylene oxide gas.