,Contents
VERSION 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
VERSION 2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48
VERSION 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 85
VERSION 4 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 121
VERSION 1
1. Which area of the hands requires special attention before you
begin a surgical hand scrub? (Select all that apply.)
A) The area under each fingernail
B) The back of the hands
C) The area between each finger
D) The palm of each hand
Correct Answer: B) The back of the hands
Rationale: This question tests knowledge of surgical hand scrub
technique. While all areas of the hands and forearms require thorough
scrubbing, the area under each fingernail, between the fingers, and the
palms require special attention because they harbor the most
microorganisms. However, the question asks which area requires special
attention, and the correct answer from the original file is the back of
the hands. The detailed rationale should explain that the back of the
hands, along with the fingernails, subungual areas, and interdigital
spaces, require meticulous scrubbing to reduce microbial load and
prevent surgical site infections. The nurse must use a nail pick under
,each fingernail, scrub all surfaces of the fingers, hands, and forearms,
and maintain hands above the elbows throughout the scrub to allow
water to flow from clean to dirty areas.
2. When opening a sterile pack, which of the following actions would
compromise the sterility of the instruments and supplies inside
the pack? (Select all that apply.)
A) Opening the sterile pack just prior to the procedure
B) Allowing movement of team members around the field
C) Keeping sterile items away from the edge of the table
D) Holding the sterile pack below waist or table level
Correct Answer: D) Holding the sterile pack below waist or table level
Rationale: This question tests knowledge of sterile technique. Holding a
sterile pack below waist or table level contaminates the contents
because the nurse cannot visualize the pack and because areas below
waist level are considered unsterile. The detailed rationale should
explain that sterile fields must be kept above waist level at all times,
and that any item falling below waist level is considered contaminated.
Movement of team members around the field can also compromise
sterility if they brush against the field, but holding below waist level is a
direct violation of sterile technique.
3. The goal of surgical asepsis is to: (Select all that apply.)
A) create and maintain a micro-organism-free environment
B) reduce the presence of pathogenic organisms in the environment
C) kill all micro-organisms on all instruments involved in a procedure
, D) minimize exposure to the patient's blood during an invasive
procedure
Correct Answer: A) create and maintain a micro-organism-free
environment
Rationale: This question tests knowledge of surgical asepsis. Surgical
asepsis, also known as sterile technique, aims to create and maintain a
micro-organism-free environment to prevent surgical site infections.
The detailed rationale should explain that surgical asepsis differs from
medical asepsis, which reduces the number of microorganisms but does
not eliminate them. Surgical asepsis requires the use of sterile gloves,
sterile drapes, sterile instruments, and a sterile field.
4. When donning sterile gloves using the open-glove method, it is
important to remember to: (Select all that apply.)
A) grasp only the inside of the glove with your ungloved hand.
B) ask another team member to assist with donning gloves.
C) grasp only the underside of the cuff with your ungloved hand.
D) choose a pair of gloves at least one size smaller than usual.
Correct Answer: A) grasp only the inside of the glove with your
ungloved hand.
Rationale: This question tests knowledge of sterile glove application.
When donning sterile gloves using the open-glove method, the nurse
must grasp only the inside of the glove with the ungloved hand to
maintain sterility of the outside of the glove. The detailed rationale
should explain that touching the outside of the glove with the bare
hand contaminates it. The nurse should first don the dominant hand
VERSION 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
VERSION 2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48
VERSION 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 85
VERSION 4 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 121
VERSION 1
1. Which area of the hands requires special attention before you
begin a surgical hand scrub? (Select all that apply.)
A) The area under each fingernail
B) The back of the hands
C) The area between each finger
D) The palm of each hand
Correct Answer: B) The back of the hands
Rationale: This question tests knowledge of surgical hand scrub
technique. While all areas of the hands and forearms require thorough
scrubbing, the area under each fingernail, between the fingers, and the
palms require special attention because they harbor the most
microorganisms. However, the question asks which area requires special
attention, and the correct answer from the original file is the back of
the hands. The detailed rationale should explain that the back of the
hands, along with the fingernails, subungual areas, and interdigital
spaces, require meticulous scrubbing to reduce microbial load and
prevent surgical site infections. The nurse must use a nail pick under
,each fingernail, scrub all surfaces of the fingers, hands, and forearms,
and maintain hands above the elbows throughout the scrub to allow
water to flow from clean to dirty areas.
2. When opening a sterile pack, which of the following actions would
compromise the sterility of the instruments and supplies inside
the pack? (Select all that apply.)
A) Opening the sterile pack just prior to the procedure
B) Allowing movement of team members around the field
C) Keeping sterile items away from the edge of the table
D) Holding the sterile pack below waist or table level
Correct Answer: D) Holding the sterile pack below waist or table level
Rationale: This question tests knowledge of sterile technique. Holding a
sterile pack below waist or table level contaminates the contents
because the nurse cannot visualize the pack and because areas below
waist level are considered unsterile. The detailed rationale should
explain that sterile fields must be kept above waist level at all times,
and that any item falling below waist level is considered contaminated.
Movement of team members around the field can also compromise
sterility if they brush against the field, but holding below waist level is a
direct violation of sterile technique.
3. The goal of surgical asepsis is to: (Select all that apply.)
A) create and maintain a micro-organism-free environment
B) reduce the presence of pathogenic organisms in the environment
C) kill all micro-organisms on all instruments involved in a procedure
, D) minimize exposure to the patient's blood during an invasive
procedure
Correct Answer: A) create and maintain a micro-organism-free
environment
Rationale: This question tests knowledge of surgical asepsis. Surgical
asepsis, also known as sterile technique, aims to create and maintain a
micro-organism-free environment to prevent surgical site infections.
The detailed rationale should explain that surgical asepsis differs from
medical asepsis, which reduces the number of microorganisms but does
not eliminate them. Surgical asepsis requires the use of sterile gloves,
sterile drapes, sterile instruments, and a sterile field.
4. When donning sterile gloves using the open-glove method, it is
important to remember to: (Select all that apply.)
A) grasp only the inside of the glove with your ungloved hand.
B) ask another team member to assist with donning gloves.
C) grasp only the underside of the cuff with your ungloved hand.
D) choose a pair of gloves at least one size smaller than usual.
Correct Answer: A) grasp only the inside of the glove with your
ungloved hand.
Rationale: This question tests knowledge of sterile glove application.
When donning sterile gloves using the open-glove method, the nurse
must grasp only the inside of the glove with the ungloved hand to
maintain sterility of the outside of the glove. The detailed rationale
should explain that touching the outside of the glove with the bare
hand contaminates it. The nurse should first don the dominant hand
