How many really use STERILE technique?

PedsNurse1981 · Mar 31, 2004

On my floor, the kids have a lot of central lines, and since they're already immunocompromised, we ALWAYS use sterile technique. We're quite obsessed about it actually.

Baby Catcher · Mar 31, 2004

I realize that it is a required skill but I just can't seem to get it right!!

Get a buddy to practice with you and give you some pointers. You'll catch on.

Speculating · Mar 31, 2004

I agree with everyone. It's vitally important. But wait until you get your first patient with a huge surgical wound, or maybe even one of those nice juicy open wounds and the doctors round at 5:30 am (while you are in another room drawing labs) and take down all the dressings to "look" and then just leave the room and leave the nasty dressings strewn around the bed, in the mean time the patient is poking around in there as well. It drove me nuts when I worked in trauma. Somebody needs to teach physicians septic technique as well. :angryfire

I'm confused! I think the Drs all ready know septic technique.

tonchitoRN · Mar 31, 2004

when i was in school we were tested on sterile technique. it was a do or die test. that means if you broke sterility, even the tiniest bit, you were flunked from the program. you bet your booty i learned how to do it perfectly. it is difficult but with practice it can be done. :stone

moia · Mar 31, 2004

Sterile technique should be a habit like how you wash,dry and put away your dishes.

When you begin a dressing change you have to think logically. Try not to get concerned about all the reasons WHY you are doing it and think of it more as a technical skill,like learning to drive.

I brought an open kit home with me and used everyone as a patient. Practice is the only way to get good at this and to give you confidence.

Not every nurse does a dressing change the same way but we all abide by certain rules.

The most important part of any dressing change is preparation and organization. You need to think out every step of the change and collect every thing you will need for each step. You must organize your bedside with everything you need lined up in the order you will need it.

Plan the whole thing out in your head and plan it out again when you get your supplies and finally plan it out once more when you organize the bedside.

By the time you are ready to start you will feel pretty comfortable because you have already done it three times.

Dirty to dirty..soiled dressing means regular gloves so you don't get dirty.

Assess the wound..look for colour and drainage and holes in the incision

Then clean the wound..this can be awkward until you can handle doing things with one hand

Remember you don't need to use the tweezers and all that crap, you are wearing sterile gloves so you can go ahead and grab anything that is sterile..clean to clean

Clean from the inside out..so you don't bring any contaminants toward the wound.

Then dress the wound.

Don't freak yourself out and make this any bigger than it needs to be. If you get nervous remember dirty to dirty,clean to clean..never break that rule and you will be fine.

oldgray08090 · Mar 31, 2004

Nearly all of your respondents so far have reinforced the importance of using sterile technique whe changing dressings. They're all right, of course, but I thought it might be helpful to go a step further. As an old (and I mean OLD) OR tech-now-RN, sterile technique is second nature, but it was a skill that came with some effort. My advice is to practice, practice, practice with a person who has a sharp eye for breaches in technique, so that you have the opportunity to do run-through after run-through (in a lab setting, of course), until you get it right. Stay with it; it is not beyond your reach.

-Rick

I am having problems passing my sterile technique in lab. I want to know how often you use sterile technique to change a surgical dressing?
I have done dressing changes and NEVER used sterile technique!! I understand the importance of using sterile technique in urinary cath.
I realize that it is a required skill but I just can't seem to get it right!!
Thanks for your input!!

kwagner_51 · Mar 31, 2004

Sterile technique for dressing changes always!!
If you haven't been doing them, what has been the technique that you are using?

We have been using clean technique. I do realize that Sterile technique is very important. I work on a Medical surical floor right now and we use clean techinque ONLY.

When I worked in OB we, used clean except when we went to the OR, but even then we didn't scrub and I wasn't wearing gloves, just a hat, the booties and a mask.

When you set up to do sterile technique, do you drape the bedside table, ot do you just place all the supplies , in their containers, on the table and go from there? The second senario is how I am doing, and can't pass] sterile technique.

Thanks!

Edited to add: When you have the sterile field laid out, how do you keep from reaching across the field to get your supplies?

suzanne4, RN · Mar 31, 2004

KWagner51,

What exactly do you mean by "clean technique" to make sure that we are thinking the same as you. Are you using sterile gloves to apply the new dressing and are you changing gloves after removing the old dressing?

I think we need to better understand exactly what you are doing to better help you........................

We are here to help................................. :balloons:

kwagner_51 · Mar 31, 2004

KWagner51,
What exactly do you mean by "clean technique" to make sure that we are thinking the same as you. Are you using sterile gloves to apply the new dressing and are you changing gloves after removing the old dressing?
I think we need to better understand exactly what you are doing to better help you........................
We are here to help................................. :balloons:

No we don't use sterile gloves we use clean gloves. To protect us from the pt. I think though that the pt. is post op day 2 and so the skin is closed.

I KNOW that sterile techique is extremely important. I must learn this so I can go on. I can not believe that I am having so much trouble with this.

Thanks!!

suzanne4, RN · Mar 31, 2004

Most wounds, if they are closed, do not even require dressings after the first two days IF it is a surgical dressing. However, if the dressing is on because of drainage, then the wound is not closed, therefore sterile technique is required. But what types of dressings are you changing? Surgical wounds or central lines? Also, are you using the clean gloves to remove the dressing, AND put on a new pair of gloves or are you using the same ones?

nursepenny · Mar 31, 2004

Remember, you need to use sterile technique when suctioning trachs, also. It is a good idea to practice with someone and have them explain what you are doing right or wrong. This is one skill you will need to utilize frequently.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2004

I think Kwanger is getting herself/himself mixed between surgically clean, sterile and aseptic techniques. Like everyone I beleive that sterile technique is an absolute must to master but sometimes the problem is as simple as this primary confusion.