GO HEAVY Err on the side of extra protection if you don't know which level of personal protective equipment to wear.

No matter what kind of surgical environment you're working in, maintaining the sterile field is critical for patient safety and to prevent surgical complications, including infections. Since barriers work only as well as the people employing them, it's helpful to make sure all team members are up to date on aseptic technique and understand the principles involved. Here's a 16-question quiz to test your team's barrier protection know-how.

1. The sterile field should ______ .

a. be prepared as close as possible to the time of use
b. be prepared in the location where it will be used
c. not be moved once it's prepared
d. all of the above

2. True or false?

When identical surgeries are being performed back to back in the same OR, it's permissible to open sterile supplies for 2 patients at a time.

3. In the event of an unanticipated delay after a sterile field is created, it ______ .

a. must be taken apart and set up again later
b. can remain as is for up to 2 hours
c. may be covered with a sterile drape
d. must be monitored by someone in the OR until it is ready to be used

4. What is the goal of draping?

a. to isolate the surgical site from exogenous microorganisms
b. to isolate the surgical site from the patient's own endogenous flora
c. to create a sterile barrier between the patient's skin and the sterile area
d. all of the above

5. True or false?

You should shake drapes when they're removed from the sterile pack in order to remove wrinkles and make them easier to place.

6. Skullcaps are considered acceptable head covers if ______ .

a. surgeons have very short hair or are balding
b. they cover the ears
c. surgeons are uncomfortable wearing bouffant caps
d. none of the above

7. How long should skin prep solution dry before you place drapes on a patient?

a. 1 minute
b. 2 minutes
c. 5 minutes
d. it depends on the prep you're using

FROM A DISTANCE Does it matter how close scrubbed personnel are to the main instrument table while they don sterile gloves?

8. True or false?

Items that fall or pass below a sterile, draped area are still considered sterile as long as they don't touch the floor.

9. What should non-sterile team members do while scrubbed team members don their gowns?

a. carefully observe those donning gowns for potential breaks in sterility
b. make sure the patient has been properly draped
c. double-check to see that the sterile field is intact
d. all of the above

10. There are 4 levels of procedures that determine which gowns and drapes to use. If you don't know which level is appropriate, you should ______ .

a. ask during the time out
b. estimate the best you can, based on experience
c. check the patient's chart
d. err on the side of caution by using gowns and drapes with a higher protection level than you might need

ABOUT FACE How often should you change your surgical mask?

11. True or false?

Scrubbed personnel should don sterile gloves and gowns while standing away from the main instrument table.

12. Disposable protective glasses should be ______ .

a. thrown away after each case
b. thrown away at the end of the day
c. thoroughly cleaned between cases
d. stored in your pocket between cases

13. True or false?

Except for anesthesia, all OR team members should have masks in place and follow aseptic technique while draping is occurring. That includes wearing sterile attire and head covers.

14. You should change your surgical mask ______ .

a. before leaving 1 area of the facility to go to another
b. after dropping it down below your mouth between cases, before the next procedure begins
c. if wearing time exceeds the manufacturer's recommendation
d. all of the above

15. True or false?

Wearing shoe covers in the surgical suite is optional, and is most likely to depend on the types of shoes being worn.

16. True or false?

Sterile drapes are used to establish a sterile field and include placement of sterile drapes on patients, furniture and equipment in the sterile field.