Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach

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Copyright © 2011 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

A Nursing Process Approach, 3rd edition

Name Date

Unit Position

Instructor/Evaluator: Position

SKILL 4-5

Adding Sterile Items to a Sterile Field

Goal:The sterile field is created without contamination, the

sterile supplies are not contaminated, and the patient remains

free of exposure to potential infection-causing microorganisms. Comments

1. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.


2. Identify the patient. Explain the procedure to the patient.


3. Check that the sterile, packaged drape and supplies are dry
   and unopened. Also note expiration date, making sure that
   the date is still valid.


4. Select a work area that is waist level or higher.


5. Prepare sterile field as described in Skill 4-3 or Skill 4-4.


6. Add sterile item:

To Add an Agency-Wrapped and Sterilized Item

a. Hold agency-wrapped item in the dominant hand, with top

flap opening away from the body. With other hand, reach

around the package and unfold top flap and both sides.

b. Keep a secure hold on the item through the wrapper

with the dominant hand. Grasp the remaining flap of the

wrapper closest to the body, taking care not to touch the

inner surface of the wrapper or the item. Pull the flap back

toward the wrist, so the wrapper covers the hand and wrist.

c. Grasp all the corners of the wrapper together with the

nondominant hand and pull back toward wrist, covering

hand and wrist. Hold in place.

d. Hold the item 6 inches above the surface of the sterile field

and drop onto the field. Be careful to avoid touching the

surface or other items or dropping onto the 1-inch border.

To Add a Commercially Wrapped and Sterilized Item

a. Hold package in one hand. Pull back top cover with

other hand. Alternately, carefully peel the edges apart

using both hands.

b. After top cover or edges are partially separated, hold the

item 6 inches above the surface of the sterile field.

Continue opening the package and drop the item onto

the field. Be careful to avoid touching the surface or

other items or dropping onto the 1-inch border.

c. Discard wrapper.

ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice