CFA Patient Safety & Aseptic Practices 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a surgical time-out immediately before incision?
- To allow the anesthesia team to complete their documentation
- To verify patient identity, procedure, site, and position before incision (Correct answer)
- To confirm instrument counts have been completed
- To ensure all OR personnel are properly attired
Correct answer: To verify patient identity, procedure, site, and position before incision
The surgical time-out is a mandatory pause to verify correct patient identity, procedure, surgical site, and patient position to prevent wrong-site surgery.
Question 2: Which type of sterilization is most appropriate for heat-sensitive surgical instruments?
- Steam autoclave sterilization at 270°F
- Ethylene oxide (ETO) gas sterilization (Correct answer)
- Flash (immediate use) steam sterilization
- Dry heat sterilization at 320°F
Correct answer: Ethylene oxide (ETO) gas sterilization
Ethylene oxide gas sterilization is used for heat-sensitive instruments because it sterilizes at low temperatures without damaging delicate materials.
Question 3: When applying sterile drapes, in which direction should draping proceed?
- From the periphery inward toward the operative site
- From the operative site outward toward the periphery (Correct answer)
- From the patient's head toward the feet
- From the patient's feet toward the head
Correct answer: From the operative site outward toward the periphery
Draping proceeds from the operative site outward to prevent dragging potentially contaminated drapes over the clean operative site.
Question 4: A sterile package is found with a small hole in the wrapper. What action should be taken?
- Use it if the contents appear undisturbed
- Use it only for non-invasive procedures
- Consider it contaminated and do not use it (Correct answer)
- Reinforce the hole with sterile tape and use it
Correct answer: Consider it contaminated and do not use it
Any breach in sterile packaging compromises sterility, so the item must be considered contaminated and should not be used.
Question 5: What is the correct order for surgical hand scrub technique?
- Fingers, hand, wrist, forearm — then repeat on other hand
- Fingernails, fingers, hand, forearm from fingertips to elbow — proximal to distal
- Fingertips to elbow progressing distal to proximal, then repeat (Correct answer)
- Palm, back of hand, wrist, forearm — same on both sides simultaneously
Correct answer: Fingertips to elbow progressing distal to proximal, then repeat
The surgical scrub proceeds distal to proximal (fingertips to elbow) to move debris from the cleanest area toward the less critical area.
Question 6: Which statement correctly describes the 'sterile to sterile' principle?
- Only sterile persons may touch sterile items; non-sterile persons may handle outer packaging (Correct answer)
- Sterile persons may pass sterile items to non-sterile persons with gloved hands
- Non-sterile items can be placed on the sterile field if handled carefully
- Sterile items can touch non-sterile surfaces if brief contact occurs
Correct answer: Only sterile persons may touch sterile items; non-sterile persons may handle outer packaging
The 'sterile to sterile' principle means only sterile persons and sterile items may contact the sterile field; non-sterile persons handle only outer packaging.
Question 7: When a first assistant gowns and gloves using closed-glove technique, the gown cuffs should be:
- Pushed back to expose the wrists for better dexterity
- Kept over the hands until the gloves are fully applied (Correct answer)
- Rolled up to the mid-forearm before gloving
- Cut off to allow for easier gloving procedure
Correct answer: Kept over the hands until the gloves are fully applied
In closed-glove technique, the gown cuffs remain over the hands throughout gloving to prevent hand-to-glove exterior contact and maintain sterility.
CFA Patient Safety & Aseptic Practices 3
What is the purpose of a surgical time-out immediately before incision?