Question

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

A. Touch the outer 1 inch of the sterile field with ungloved hands.
B. Consider the inner 1 inch of the sterile field as contaminated.
C. Use the outer edges of the sterile field for sterile item placement.
D. Discard any sterile item that comes into contact with the nurse's gown.

Answer 1

The correct technique for maintaining aseptic technique when preparing a sterile field for catheter insertion in a male client is to consider the inner 1 inch of the sterile field as contaminated. This helps prevent infection and maintain patient safety throughout the procedure.

Step-by-step explanation:

When preparing a sterile field for the insertion of an indwelling urinary catheter in a male client, the nurse should use technique B: Consider the inner 1 inch of the sterile field as contaminated. This is essential for maintaining aseptic technique to prevent the transfer of microbes and infectious agents to the patient. Aseptic technique protocols dictate that any portion of the sterile field that may come into contact with non-sterile surfaces is considered contaminated to ensure patient safety. Handling sterile items requires special care; for example, any sterile item that accidentally contacts the nurse's gown should indeed be discarded to maintain asepsis. This meticulous practice helps prevent infections such as sepsis—a severe response to infection characterized by systemic inflammation, which can quickly become life-threatening.

Moreover, personnel engaged in these procedures should wear protective attire and practice thorough handwashing to minimize the risk of contaminating the sterile field. The goal of these precautions is to protect patients from infections, like those caused by biofilms of microorganisms on medical devices, and to ensure that surgical and clinical procedures do not introduce pathogens into the patient's body.