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Safety and Infection Prevention and Control · Multiple choice · Evaluate outcomes

Which action breaks sterile technique?

A. Holding sterile gloved hands below the waist
B. Facing the sterile field at all times
C. Keeping a 1-inch (2.5 cm) border around the sterile field as nonsterile
D. Pouring sterile solution without touching the container to the field

Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A

Anything below the waist or out of sight is considered contaminated. The outer inch of the field is nonsterile, the nurse should always face the field, and pouring without contact keeps the field sterile.

Source: Potter & Perry. Fundamentals of Nursing, 12th ed. (surgical asepsis)

Keep practicing Safety and Infection Prevention and Control

This question is one of 163 Safety and Infection Prevention and Control items in NCLEXSim. On the NCLEX-RN, this category makes up 10–16% of the exam.

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Study tip

Memorize isolation by organism: airborne (TB, measles, varicella), droplet (influenza, pertussis, mumps, meningococcus), contact (C. difficile, MRSA, scabies, RSV).
Drill the PPE sequences: on is gown, mask, eyewear, gloves; off is gloves, eyewear, gown, mask, then hand hygiene.

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