ATI Sterile Technique: Comprehensive Nursing Skills Mastery
Guide for Aseptic Practice, Sterile Field Maintenance, Infection
Prevention, Clinical Procedures, Patient Safety Standards,
Equipment Handling, Contamination Control, and Essential
Fundamentals Review for Nursing Exam Preparation and
Success
Question 1
A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which action demonstrates correct
understanding of surgical asepsis?
A) Sterile technique aims to reduce the number of microorganisms
B) Sterile technique aims to eliminate all microorganisms from an area
C) Sterile technique is the same as medical asepsis
D) Sterile technique only applies to operating room procedures
Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) aims to eliminate all
microorganisms from an object or area and prevent contamination. Medical
asepsis (clean technique) only reduces the number of pathogens.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to change a surgical dressing. Which statement best
describes the goal of surgical asepsis?
A) Create and maintain a microorganism-free environment
B) Kill all microorganisms on all instruments
C) Reduce the presence of pathogenic organisms
D) Minimize exposure to the patient's blood
Answer: A
Rationale: The goal of surgical asepsis is to create and maintain a microorganism-
free environment.
,Question 3
Which of the following procedures requires sterile technique?
A) Obtaining a blood pressure
B) Inserting a urinary catheter
C) Administering oral medication
D) Assisting a patient with bathing
Answer: B
Rationale: Urinary catheter insertion requires sterile technique because it
involves inserting a foreign object into a sterile body cavity.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a patient with a central venous catheter. The primary
purpose for using surgical asepsis when changing the dressing is to:
A) Promote the catheter's patency
B) Assess skin integrity around the site
C) Provide a clean, dry environment
D) Control the introduction of microorganisms at the catheter site
Answer: D
Rationale: The primary purpose of surgical asepsis for central line dressing
changes is to control the introduction of microorganisms at the catheter site.
Question 5
Which of the following statements about the sterile field is correct?
A) The outer 2-inch border of a sterile field is considered contaminated
B) The outer 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered contaminated
C) The entire sterile field remains sterile regardless of moisture
D) Only the center of the sterile field is considered sterile
,Answer: B
Rationale: A 1-inch (2.5-centimeter) border around a sterile field is considered
contaminated.
Question 6
A nurse drops a sterile instrument onto the floor. What should the nurse do?
A) Pick it up and continue using it
B) Wipe it with alcohol and continue using it
C) Discard it and obtain a new sterile instrument
D) Rinse it with sterile water and continue using it
Answer: C
Rationale: Any sterile item that falls to the floor is considered contaminated and
must be discarded. A new sterile instrument must be obtained.
Question 7
Which of the following is considered a break in sterile technique?
A) Keeping sterile items above waist level
B) Opening sterile packaging away from the body
C) Reaching across a sterile field
D) Using sterile gloves
Answer: C
Rationale: Reaching across a sterile field introduces contamination from
nonsterile areas.
Question 8
A sterile field becomes contaminated by capillary action when it comes into
contact with:
, A) Air
B) Light
C) Moisture
D) Heat
Answer: C
Rationale: A sterile field becomes contaminated by capillary action when it comes
into contact with moisture.
Question 9
A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which action is correct?
A) Keep the sterile field at least 6 feet away from the client's bedside
B) Instruct the client to refrain from coughing and sneezing
C) Place a mask on the client to limit the spread of microorganisms
D) Keep a box of facial tissues nearby for the client
Answer: C
Rationale: Placing a mask on the client prevents contamination of the sterile field
and surgical wound.
Question 10
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action
demonstrates proper sterile technique?
A) Open the sterile kit, put on sterile gloves, then pour antiseptic solution onto
the sterile field
B) Open the sterile kit, pour antiseptic solution into the receptacle, then apply
sterile gloves
C) Apply sterile gloves, then open the outer packaging of the sterile kit
D) Pour antiseptic solution with ungloved hands, then apply sterile gloves
Answer: B
Guide for Aseptic Practice, Sterile Field Maintenance, Infection
Prevention, Clinical Procedures, Patient Safety Standards,
Equipment Handling, Contamination Control, and Essential
Fundamentals Review for Nursing Exam Preparation and
Success
Question 1
A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which action demonstrates correct
understanding of surgical asepsis?
A) Sterile technique aims to reduce the number of microorganisms
B) Sterile technique aims to eliminate all microorganisms from an area
C) Sterile technique is the same as medical asepsis
D) Sterile technique only applies to operating room procedures
Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) aims to eliminate all
microorganisms from an object or area and prevent contamination. Medical
asepsis (clean technique) only reduces the number of pathogens.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to change a surgical dressing. Which statement best
describes the goal of surgical asepsis?
A) Create and maintain a microorganism-free environment
B) Kill all microorganisms on all instruments
C) Reduce the presence of pathogenic organisms
D) Minimize exposure to the patient's blood
Answer: A
Rationale: The goal of surgical asepsis is to create and maintain a microorganism-
free environment.
,Question 3
Which of the following procedures requires sterile technique?
A) Obtaining a blood pressure
B) Inserting a urinary catheter
C) Administering oral medication
D) Assisting a patient with bathing
Answer: B
Rationale: Urinary catheter insertion requires sterile technique because it
involves inserting a foreign object into a sterile body cavity.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a patient with a central venous catheter. The primary
purpose for using surgical asepsis when changing the dressing is to:
A) Promote the catheter's patency
B) Assess skin integrity around the site
C) Provide a clean, dry environment
D) Control the introduction of microorganisms at the catheter site
Answer: D
Rationale: The primary purpose of surgical asepsis for central line dressing
changes is to control the introduction of microorganisms at the catheter site.
Question 5
Which of the following statements about the sterile field is correct?
A) The outer 2-inch border of a sterile field is considered contaminated
B) The outer 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered contaminated
C) The entire sterile field remains sterile regardless of moisture
D) Only the center of the sterile field is considered sterile
,Answer: B
Rationale: A 1-inch (2.5-centimeter) border around a sterile field is considered
contaminated.
Question 6
A nurse drops a sterile instrument onto the floor. What should the nurse do?
A) Pick it up and continue using it
B) Wipe it with alcohol and continue using it
C) Discard it and obtain a new sterile instrument
D) Rinse it with sterile water and continue using it
Answer: C
Rationale: Any sterile item that falls to the floor is considered contaminated and
must be discarded. A new sterile instrument must be obtained.
Question 7
Which of the following is considered a break in sterile technique?
A) Keeping sterile items above waist level
B) Opening sterile packaging away from the body
C) Reaching across a sterile field
D) Using sterile gloves
Answer: C
Rationale: Reaching across a sterile field introduces contamination from
nonsterile areas.
Question 8
A sterile field becomes contaminated by capillary action when it comes into
contact with:
, A) Air
B) Light
C) Moisture
D) Heat
Answer: C
Rationale: A sterile field becomes contaminated by capillary action when it comes
into contact with moisture.
Question 9
A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which action is correct?
A) Keep the sterile field at least 6 feet away from the client's bedside
B) Instruct the client to refrain from coughing and sneezing
C) Place a mask on the client to limit the spread of microorganisms
D) Keep a box of facial tissues nearby for the client
Answer: C
Rationale: Placing a mask on the client prevents contamination of the sterile field
and surgical wound.
Question 10
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action
demonstrates proper sterile technique?
A) Open the sterile kit, put on sterile gloves, then pour antiseptic solution onto
the sterile field
B) Open the sterile kit, pour antiseptic solution into the receptacle, then apply
sterile gloves
C) Apply sterile gloves, then open the outer packaging of the sterile kit
D) Pour antiseptic solution with ungloved hands, then apply sterile gloves
Answer: B
