Republic of the Philippines

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

(University of the City of Manila)
General Luna Street corner Muralla Street
Intramuros, Manila
1002 Philippines
S.Y.

COLLEGE OF NURSING
(Dalubhasaan ng Narsing)

SKILLS LABORATORY CHECKLIST

Name: ________________________________________Date:______________________________
Year Level and Block:_______________________ Clinical Instructor:________________

Skill: Establishing and Maintaining a Sterile Field

Performed
Mastered Comments
Preparation Yes No
1. Determine:
 Exactly what procedure will be
performed that requires a
sterile field.
 The client’s presence of or risk
for infection.
 The client’s ability to cooperate
with the procedure.

2. Assemble equipment:
 Package containing a sterile
drape
 Sterile equipment, as needed
3. Confirm sterility of package(s).
Insure that the package is clean and
dry.
Check the sterilization expiration
dates on the package, and look for
any indications that it has been
opened previously.
Follow agency practice for the
disposal of possibly contaminated
packages.
Procedure
1. Introduce yourself and verify the
client’s identity. Explain to the
client what you are going to do,
why it is necessary, and how the
client can cooperate.
2. Perform hand hygiene and
observe other appropriate
infection control procedures.
3. Provide for client privacy.
 4. Open the package.
If the package is inside a plastic
cover, remove the cover.
To Open a Wrapped Package on a Surface:
Place the package in the center of
the work area so that the top flap of
the wrapper opens away from you.
Reaching around the package (not
over it), pinch the first flap on the
outside of the wrapper between the
thumb and index finger. Pull the
flap open, laying it flat on the far
surface.
Repeat for the side flaps, opening
the top one first. Use the right hand
for the right flap, and the left hand
for the left flap.
Pull the fourth flap toward you by
grasping the corner that is turned
down. Make sure that the flap does
not touch any object.

Variation: Opening a Wrapped Package While Holding It

Procedure
Hold the package in one hand, with
the top flap opening away from
you.
Using the other hand, open the
package as described above, pulling
the corners of the flaps well back.

Variation: Opening Commercially Prepared Packages

Procedure
If the flap of the package has an
unsealed corner, hold the container
in one hand, and pull back on the
flap with the other hand.
If the package has a partially sealed
edge, grasp both sides of the edge,
one with each hand, and pull apart
gently.
5. Establish a sterile field by using a
drape.
Open the package containing the
drape as described above.
With one hand, pluck the corner of
the drape that is folded back on the
top.
Lift the drape out of the cover, and
allow it to open freely without
touching any articles.
Discard the cover.
 With the other hand, carefully pick
up another corner of the drape,
holding it well away from you.
Lay the drape on a clean and dry
surface, placing the bottom (i.e., the
freely hanging side) farthest from
you.
6. Add necessary sterile supplies.
To Add Wrapped Supplies to a Sterile Field:
Open each wrapped package as
described in the preceding steps.
With the free hand, grasp the
corners of the wrapper, and hold
them against the wrist of the other
hand.
Place the sterile bowl, drape, or
other supply on the sterile field by
approaching from an angle rather
than holding the arm over the field.
Discard the wrapper.

Variation: Adding Commercially Packaged Supplies to a Sterile Field

Open each package as previously
described.
Hold the package 15 cm (6 inches)
above the field, and allow the
contents to drop on the field. Keep
in mind that 2.5 cm (1 inch) around
the edge of the field is considered
contaminated.
Adding Solution to a Sterile Bowl
Before pouring any liquid, read the
label three times to make sure you
have the correct solution and
concentration (strength).
Obtain the exact amount of
solution, if possible.
Remove the lid or cap from the
bottle and invert the lid before
placing it on a surface that is not
sterile.
Hold the bottle at a slight angle so
that the label is uppermost.
Hold the bottle of fluid at a height
of 10–15 cm (4–6 inches) over the
bowl and to the side of the sterile
field so that as little of the bottle as
possible is over the field.
Pour the solution gently to avoid
splashing the liquid.
 If the bottle will be used again,
replace the lid securely, and write
on the label the date and time of
opening.
7. Use sterile forceps to handle sterile
supplies.
Keep the tips of wet forceps lower
than the wrist at all times, unless
you are wearing sterile gloves.
Hold sterile forceps above waist
level.
Hold sterile forceps within sight.
When using forceps to lift sterile
supplies, be sure that the forceps
do not touch the edges or outside of
the wrapper.
When placing forceps whose
handles were in contact with the
bare hand, position the handles
outside the sterile area.
Deposit a sterile item on a sterile
field without permitting moist
forceps to touch the sterile field
when the surface under the
absorbent sterile field is unsterile
and a barrier drape is not used.
8. Document that sterile technique
was used in the performance of
the procedure.

________________________________
Signature over Printed Name of Student

Evaluated By:

________________________________
Signature over Printed Name
Clinical Instructor