AORN Aseptic Technique 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which event requires immediate gown and glove change for a scrubbed team member?
- Touching another scrubbed team member's sterile sleeve
- Brushing the non-sterile anesthesia screen with an elbow (Correct answer)
- Adjusting the sterile drape with a sterile towel clamp
- Receiving a sterile item passed by the circulator
Correct answer: Brushing the non-sterile anesthesia screen with an elbow
Contact with a non-sterile surface, such as the anesthesia screen, contaminates the gown and requires immediate regowning and regloving.
Question 2: According to AORN, what is the correct order when donning sterile attire for a procedure?
- Gloves, then gown
- Gown, then gloves
- Mask, gown, then gloves with the closed technique (Correct answer)
- Gloves with open technique, then gown
Correct answer: Mask, gown, then gloves with the closed technique
AORN recommends donning the mask before entering the OR, then gowning, then gloving using the closed technique to prevent hand contamination.
Question 3: A sterile instrument falls to the floor during a procedure. What is the correct action?
- Retrieve and place it on the back table if it did not contact a non-sterile surface
- Discard the instrument and request a replacement from the circulator (Correct answer)
- Rinse with sterile saline and return to the sterile field
- Use it only for external wound closure where risk is minimal
Correct answer: Discard the instrument and request a replacement from the circulator
Any instrument that falls to the floor is considered contaminated and must be discarded; a new sterile instrument must be obtained.
Question 4: In what situation would a sterile drape on a Mayo stand need to be replaced before surgery begins?
- When the drape has been set up more than 15 minutes before incision
- When a non-sterile person walks within 2 feet of the stand
- When moisture is visible on the drape surface (strike-through) (Correct answer)
- When the drape was opened by the circulator rather than the scrub
Correct answer: When moisture is visible on the drape surface (strike-through)
Strike-through contamination occurs when moisture penetrates a sterile drape, creating a pathway for microorganisms and rendering the field non-sterile.
Question 5: Which describes the correct handling of sterile items near the edges of a sterile field?
- A one-inch border around the drape edge is considered non-sterile (Correct answer)
- The entire drape surface is sterile if sealed packages were used
- Edges are sterile as long as they remain above the table level
- Only the center 50% of the drape is considered truly sterile
Correct answer: A one-inch border around the drape edge is considered non-sterile
AORN defines a one-inch (approximately 2.5 cm) border at the edges of a sterile drape as non-sterile due to contamination risk from handling and proximity to non-sterile surfaces.
Question 6: When two scrubbed team members need to pass each other in the OR, which method maintains aseptic technique?
- One passes behind the other with back to the sterile field
- They pass back-to-back keeping both away from the sterile field
- One steps off the sterile platform while the other passes
- They face each other while passing to monitor the sterile field (Correct answer)
Correct answer: They face each other while passing to monitor the sterile field
Scrubbed team members should pass each other face-to-face to ensure both can monitor the sterile field and avoid accidental contamination.
Question 7: A scrub technician opens a peel-pack and the inner contents touch the non-sterile outer wrapper. What is the correct action?
- Inspect the item and use it if no visible contamination is present
- Wipe the item with a sterile alcohol swab and place it on the field
- Consider the item contaminated and obtain a new sterile item (Correct answer)
- Ask the surgeon whether the item is critical enough to use anyway
Correct answer: Consider the item contaminated and obtain a new sterile item
Contact between the sterile item and the non-sterile outer wrapper renders the item contaminated; it must be discarded and replaced.
AORN Aseptic Technique 3
Which event requires immediate gown and glove change for a scrubbed team member?