Keeping a sterile field

schnookimz · Feb 6, 2014

Advice: sterile fields seem to be nursing professors favorite thing to fail students on. It's like if you look at the field funny then you fail.

Don't beat yourself up. Just try again.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2014

Today at school we had to demonstrate how to prepare a sterile field and do a dressing change. I had practiced and felt pretty confident but then my professor told me I didn't pass because I contaminated the field somehow and would have to redo it next week. I'm extremely down about it and am not really sure what I can do to better prepare myself next time. Does anyone have any advice? Or can anyone at least tell me that it's okay so I can quit stressing about not passing lol

Did she tell you how you contaminated it?

wellcoachRN · Feb 6, 2014

I agree, don't beat yourself up! Ask the instructor for feedback and review the procedure again. Good luck next week! I am sure you will do well!

Bedside_Life RN · Feb 6, 2014

First, you are a student... you are there to LEARN and your professor knows this. Read in your skills book and practice at home, or have another student monitor you while they are looking at the skills list. Don't get in a hurry, once those gloves are on put your hands together (sort of like you are praying) and take a moment to think about what is next, have I completed everything that is not sterile that needed to be done, and do I have the items that I need set up in such a way that contamination is out of the question, PERIOD! if not, look at your professor and say I think I have contaminated my field or I would like to start over, I've forgotten something. Your professor wont discredit you for being honest and independently making the decision to do it the right way. That is what they are testing you on... they want to know if you are going to be safe.

Set yourself up for success... Put the pt. in a good working position and at a good height, have your materials gathered, set them up in such a way that you can open them in the order that you will use them, put your work area where it is easy to reach and you are not having to turn your back on it. If you do have to get something out of reach, walk backwards around the table if you have to, just make sure it is always in your sight. place the trashcan in a good place so that you can drop items into it and it wont fall on your pt. or your work space. If you have to move it, move it with your foot and don't worry if it falls on the floor instead of in the trash. You can clean that up later.

Just remember, if you even have the thought that you may have contaminated yourself or the field, consider it contaminated and ask to start over. You are not on a time limit and you are doing this for you, not to compete with your peers. Practice, practice, practice. Good Luck!