Quick answer A bare hand and wristwatch are contacting the sterile field. Nonsterile skin and jewelry contaminate sterile supplies, so the field must be replaced.
Why this is correct A bare hand and wristwatch are nonsterile. Contact with the sterile field contaminates the supplies, so the field can no longer be treated as sterile.
Easy analogy or mental picture Picture the sterile field as an unbroken boundary: once a nonsterile object crosses and touches it, the boundary is broken even if the contact area looks clean.
Memory hook Bare skin and a wristwatch touching the field make the field contaminated.
NCLEX decision rule When any nonsterile skin, jewelry, or object touches a sterile field, identify the contamination and replace affected supplies according to sterile technique.
Why the other choices are wrong The sterile gloves, basin, and drape are expected components; selecting them without evidence of boundary violation misses the contamination event.
References
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CDC: Infection-control and surgical asepsis resources
Clinical situationThe nurse is preparing a sterile procedure.
What the nurse should noticeA bare hand and wristwatch are contacting the sterile field. Nonsterile skin and jewelry contaminate sterile supplies, so the field must be replaced.
Transfer to practiceWhen any nonsterile skin, jewelry, or object touches a sterile field, identify the contamination and replace affected supplies according to sterile technique.
Sterile field — A prepared area intended to remain free of microorganisms.
Contamination — Introduction of a nonsterile object or organism into a sterile area.