NBSTSA Sterile Technique & Asepsis 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a procedure, a circulator notices condensation forming on the outside of a sterile saline bottle just retrieved from storage. What is the correct action?
- Use the bottle immediately before more condensation forms
- Consider the contents contaminated and discard (Correct answer)
- Wipe the outside with a sterile towel and proceed
- Pour slowly to avoid splashing the sterile field
Correct answer: Consider the contents contaminated and discard
Condensation (strike-through moisture) on a sterile package or container indicates potential contamination and the item must be discarded.
Question 2: A scrub technologist drops a sterile instrument onto the floor. The instrument bounces and lands inside the sterile drape perimeter. What should occur?
- Pick it up carefully with a sterile gloved hand since it landed on the drape
- Retrieve it only if it did not touch the floor draping
- Treat the instrument as contaminated and remove it from the sterile field (Correct answer)
- Rinse with sterile saline and return it to use
Correct answer: Treat the instrument as contaminated and remove it from the sterile field
Any item that has fallen to the floor is considered contaminated regardless of where it lands after falling.
Question 3: Which zone on a sterile-draped patient is considered the primary sterile field during an abdominal procedure?
- The Mayo stand tray
- The back table surface
- The draped patient area surrounding the incision site (Correct answer)
- The instrument basin set
Correct answer: The draped patient area surrounding the incision site
The sterile drapes placed on the patient around the operative site constitute the primary sterile field.
Question 4: When gowning another team member, the scrub technologist should hand the gown in which manner?
- Cuffed at the sleeves so the surgeon can easily grasp it
- Folded inside-out with the armholes facing the surgeon
- Held open with the inside facing the surgeon and hands protected by the gown (Correct answer)
- Presented by the collar with the outside facing the surgeon
Correct answer: Held open with the inside facing the surgeon and hands protected by the gown
The gown is held open at the neck with the sterile outside facing out and the scrub's hands tucked inside to protect sterility.
Question 5: A sterile package is found with a small, dried blood stain on the outer wrapper from a previous case. What is the appropriate action?
- Use it if the inner wrap is intact
- Clean the stain with alcohol and use if the seal is unbroken
- Consider it contaminated and do not use (Correct answer)
- Use it only for non-critical items
Correct answer: Consider it contaminated and do not use
Any stain or soil on a sterile wrapper is evidence of potential contamination and the package must not be used.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the principle of 'surgical conscience'?
- Ensuring correct patient identification before surgery
- An internal commitment to report and correct breaks in sterile technique immediately (Correct answer)
- Following the surgeon's preferences for instrument arrangement
- Documenting all instruments used during a procedure
Correct answer: An internal commitment to report and correct breaks in sterile technique immediately
Surgical conscience is the personal ethical commitment of each team member to acknowledge and correct any break in sterile technique, even if unobserved.
Question 7: During open-heart surgery, the scrub notices that the surgeon's gown sleeve has brushed the unsterile anesthesia screen. What is the priority action?
- Continue the procedure since it was a brief contact
- Alert the surgeon to change gown sleeves or have the area recovered (Correct answer)
- Cover the contaminated sleeve with a sterile towel and continue
- Document the incident and monitor for signs of infection postoperatively
Correct answer: Alert the surgeon to change gown sleeves or have the area recovered
Any contact between a sterile gown and an unsterile surface requires immediate correction — the contaminated gown must be changed or the area re-covered.
NBSTSA Sterile Technique & Asepsis 4
During a procedure, a circulator notices condensation forming on the outside of a sterile saline bottle just retrieved from storage.
What is the correct action?