What actions with sterile gowns and gloves violate correct sterile technique?

Answer 1

Some actions with sterile gowns and gloves that would violate correct sterile technique include:

1. Not gathering and setting out all necessary supplies
2. Not performing NON-sterile tasks FIRST
3. Not tying back your long hair first before washing your hands
   
4. Not removing anything on your body that could interfere with the sterile procedure: your bracelet; stethoscope around your neck; pocket protector holding your scissors, pens, etc.
5. Setting everything up and opening sterile products--then, leaving it all sit out and leaving the room while the patient vists with family and friends. They could touch anything that is opened.
6. Not washing your hands and doing so using correct hand-washing procedures before touching ANY sterile equipment / products
7. Touching the sterile gloves any place except at the top with your washed hand.
8. Touching with your washed hand the fingers of a sterile glove to pull the fingers into better position (You CAN touch the sterile parts of gloves if BOTH hands are already gloved.)
9. Pulling up your sterile gloves at the wrists when wearing the sterile gloves -- the hand and glove that touches your skin at the top of the glove is now NOT sterile anymore.
10. Moving and setting aside objects that are in your way-- should have done that during prep.
11. Opening the sterile napkin or sheet for your work area but letting the sterile side touch a non-sterile surface.
12. Touching ANYthing that is NON-sterile after washing your hands or already wearing a sterile gown and gloves (remove gloves and gown; rewash your hands; use a new pair of gloves and new gown)
13. Not following correct steps for a sterile procedure
14. Being gloved and gowned and then, opening the outsides (non-sterile) of packaging
15. Pushing back your hair or wiping your face or scratching an itch once you are in sterile garb.
16. Lifting the side of your gown to get something from your pocket.
17. Sneezing over or on the sterile field
18. Letting your sweat, if you are nervous, drip onto the sterile field.
19. Letting sterile items touch non-sterile items or objects
    
20. Laying a sterile item down outside of the sterile field, even if "only a little" is off the sterile field
21. Reaching over or across a sterile tray or sterile field
22. Using NON-sterile scissors or tweezers to cut or assist you with handling gauze, tape, tubing, etc.
23. Sitting on the patient's bed to do a sterile procedure (You should never sit on the bed anyway. If you are wearing sterile gown and gloves, you are no longer sterile.)
24. Letting any person without sterile gloves to handle any sterile item-- including the patient-- or your instructor! IF your instructor violates the sterile equipment or touches the sterile field, stop. Remove your gloves/gown, throw out the opened/contaminated items, get new unopened products, rewash your hands, and start over.
25. Leaving the room to get something you forgot, returning, and continuing while wearing the same gloves and gown. If you leave the room, your sterile garb is no longer sterile. Your gloves are no longer sterile. Start over.
26. Using your pen to write a date on tape while still doing the sterile procedure. Wait until you are done with the sterile procedure before doing non-sterile actions.

There are so many actions we all do unconsciously. Learning sterile procedures forces us to become conscious of all our actions, even the most simple or ones normally seen as "minor".

Answer 2

reaching over a sterile tray