Lecture Notes: Sterility and Sterile Fields

Introduction

• Speaker: Meris
• Focus: Understanding sterility and sterile fields
• Reference: Fundamentals of Nursing flashcards (card 53)

Indications for a Sterile Field

• Not required for every patient
• Used during sterile procedures:
  • Invasive procedures (e.g., central/PICC line insertion)
  • Urinary catheter insertion (both straight and indwelling)
  • Tracheostomy care
  • Surgical procedures

Medical Asepsis vs. Surgical Asepsis

• Medical Asepsis: Routine prevention of pathogen transmission (e.g., washing hands, wearing clean gloves)
• Surgical Asepsis: Strict sterile procedures to prevent pathogen transmission

Best Practices for Sterile Fields

• Do not turn back on sterile field
  • Ensures nothing touches or contaminates it
• Hands must remain above the waist
  • Anything below is non-sterile
• Avoid reaching over the sterile field
  • Only sterile items should pass over
• Avoid talking, coughing, or sneezing over the field
• Check integrity of sterile packaging
• Respect the one-inch border
  • Considered non-sterile for working space
• Moisture contamination
  • Wet objects or areas are considered non-sterile

Preparing a Sterile Field (Card 54)

• Order of opening sterile packages
  • Topmost flap opens away from the body first
  • Open sides next, then flap closest to you
• Pouring sterile solutions
  • Place cap with inside facing upward
  • Cover bottle label with palm to avoid splashing
  • Hold bottle two inches above to prevent splashes
  • Pour slowly

Skills Practice

• Muscle memory is key
  • Practice keeping hands above waist
• Encouragement to practice repeatedly

Conclusion

• Next video topics: Bed baths, bed making, oral care, denture care, seizure precautions
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Tips

• Practice regularly to develop muscle memory
• Keep sterile field rules in mind during exams and clinical practice
• Use creative methods (e.g., funny mnemonics) to remember protocols