Skills Hub
infection-control
Establishing and Maintaining a Sterile Field
Always tested on the CCMA
Open and maintain a sterile field without contaminating it.
About this skill
Open a sterile package using the flaps-out technique, establish a 1-inch contaminated border, and add sterile items. Recognize when a field has been compromised (below waist level, wet, out of view).
10 total steps
4 critical steps
Time limit: 5 min
What graders are watching for
- 1Anything below waist level is contaminated
- 2Do not reach over a sterile field
- 3A wet field is contaminated (moisture wicks contamination)
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
- !Opening the closest flap first (contaminates the field)
- !Touching the inside of the sterile drape
- !Turning your back on the field
Practice this skill step-by-step
The static walkthrough above is the marketing overview. The full step-by-step interactive practice (with critical-step highlighting, per-step "why this matters" rationale, and what graders watch for on each individual step) is unlocked with a subscription.
Related infection control skills
Hand Hygiene
The single most important measure to reduce pathogen transmission in any healthcare setting.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — Donning
The CDC sequence for putting on PPE without contaminating yourself or the patient.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — Doffing
The CDC sequence for removing PPE without self-contaminating.