NCLEX-RNSafety and Infection Prevention and ControlMedium
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter into a female client. The nurse accidentally contaminates the sterile catheter by touching an unsterile surface. Which action should the nurse take next?
- ARinse the catheter with sterile water and proceed with insertion.
- BObtain a new sterile catheterization kit.
- CContinue with the insertion, as only a small portion was contaminated.
- DCleanse the client's perineum again with antiseptic solution.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Obtain a new sterile catheterization kit.
Once a sterile object, such as a catheter, touches an unsterile surface, it is considered contaminated. Rinsing with sterile water does not re-sterilize it. The nurse must obtain a new sterile catheterization kit to maintain aseptic technique and prevent infection.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Rinsing with sterile water does not re-sterilize a contaminated object.
- C. Any contamination of a sterile object renders it unsterile, regardless of the size of the contaminated area.
- D. Recleansing the perineum is unnecessary if the catheter itself is contaminated; a new kit is needed.
Sterile Field Contamination
Any break in aseptic technique that renders a sterile object or area unsterile, increasing the risk of infection.
- A sterile object becomes unsterile when touched by an unsterile object.
- If a sterile field becomes contaminated, it must be discarded and a new one prepared.
- Maintaining sterility is crucial for invasive procedures to prevent healthcare-associated infections.
Memory trick: CONTAMINATED means RESTART, no exceptions!