Question

A nurse is preparing a sterile field to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a male client. Which of the following techniques should the nurse use to maintain surgical aseptic technique?

A) Touch only the outer 1 inch of the sterile field
B) Reach across the sterile field to grab necessary items
C) Consider the outer 2 inches of the sterile field as contaminated
D) Place the sterile field on a non-flat surface

Answer 1

To maintain surgical aseptic technique during catheter insertion, the nurse should consider the outer 2 inches of the sterile field as contaminated and avoid unnecessary contact or reaching across the field.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse is preparing a sterile field to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a male client, the correct technique to maintain surgical aseptic technique is to consider the outer 2 inches of the sterile field as contaminated (option C). This standard precaution helps to ensure that the sterile field is maintained during the procedure. Reaching across the sterile field (option B) would violate aseptic principles by potentially introducing contaminants. Placing the sterile field on a non-flat surface (option D) could compromise the sterility of the field by bringing it into contact with unsterile areas. To prevent contamination, the nurse should also avoid touching any part of the sterile field unnecessarily, and the perimeter should not be compromised, which includes not touching the outer 1 inch of the sterile field (option A).