Students must meet criteria of Critical Elements to safely perform the skill based on evidence-based practice. Score can be pass/fail, letter grade, or point assignment. Only acceptable score for Critical Elements is 100%
Critical Elements
Supplies for sterile procedure should be single-use.
Maintain aseptic/sterile technique throughout.
Perform hand hygiene before and after procedure.
Confirm sterile pack is intact and current.
Sterile gloves maintained above waist when being worn.
Replace gloves that become torn.
Only sterile items are allowed on sterile field.
If sterile field is compromised, entire sterile field is considered contaminated.
Procedure
Prior to Treatment: (Critical Thinking)
Determine need for sterile field.
Gather equipment: Sterile wrapped drape, sterile package, sterile gloves (additional pair if risk of contamination is high), additional sterile supplies (dressings, containers, solution, etc.).
Patient Interaction: (Safety)
Explain procedure.
Confirm allergies.
Wash hands.
Steps of the Procedure (Infection Control)
Check sterile package for dryness and that it is unopened. Confirm that it is not expired.
Select work area that is waist level or higher.
If using a sterile wrapped rape, open outer covering, remove sterile drape by lifting carefully by its corners. Gently shake open, hold away from body and lay on selected work area.
If using a commercially prepared package, place in center of work area, opening carefully, touching outer surface only. Reach around the item and open topmost flap of wrapper away from you. Open right and left flaps before grasping the nearest flap and opening toward you.
Place additional sterile items on field as needed by opening top flap opening away from your and ";dropping"; onto sterile field (at least 6"; above field). Avoid dropping onto the 1"; border of the field.
After Procedure (Patient Centered Care, Safety)
Straighten room making patient comfortable, replace call light.