Sterile field draping is addressed in the second recommendation. This is done to prevent contamination of the sterile field. The scrub person then enters the operative suite, dries hands and arms in an aseptic manner and dons a sterile gown and gloves from a table that has been separated from the main instrument table. The purpose of hand antisepsis is to reduce the microbial count and decrease the chance that microbes will be transferred. Surgical hand antisepsis should be performed according to the antiseptic manufacturer’s instructions, so that the product is used in the most efficient manner. The process of maintaining the sterile field begins with the scrub person’s hand antisepsis at the scrub sink. The first of the seven recommendations speaks to the fact that scrubbed persons should function within a sterile field. Within this recommended practice are seven recommendations for maintaining asepsis within a sterile field. This document is intended to be a guideline for establishing and maintaining a sterile field. “Recommended Practices (RPs) for Maintaining a Sterile Field" is the specific RP pertaining to maintaining a sterile field and asepsis. The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) provides guidance in maintaining a sterile field within the 2008 Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. The state of being free of pathogenic microorganisms is truly the most accurate of the two definitions when applied to the surgical field, the second definition speaks to the process leading to asepsis. A second definition that applies to surgical asepsis as well is: The process of removing pathogenic microorganisms or protecting against infection by such organisms. The first is: The state of being free of pathogenic microorganisms. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language gives us two definitions of asepsis. The AORN Explications for Perioperative Nursing outline this framework in Appendix A of the AORN Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices, 2008 edition. Maintaining asepsis is a fundamental skill in accepting responsibility and being accountable within this framework of ethics. Perioperative nursing practice is in part guided by the American Nurses Association (ANA)’s Code of Ethics. One such basic but extremely important task in the perioperative setting is maintaining asepsis within a sterile field. In order to advance in our knowledge of nursing practice we must keep in mind the basic information of the daily tasks that we perform which truly make a difference.
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