PRINCIPLES OF ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE

I.

OR personnel must practice strict Standard Precautions (i.e., blood

and body substance isolation)

II.

All items used in the sterile field must be sterile

III.

Sterile objects become unsterile when touched by unsterile objects

IV.

Sterile items that are out of vision sterile or below the waist level of
the nurse are considered unsterile

V.

Sterile objects can become unsterile by prolonged exposure to airborn organism

VI.
VII.

The skin cannot be sterilized and is unsterile

All OR personnel are required to wear specific, clean attire, with the
goal of shedding the outside environment.

VIII.

Any personnel who harbors pathogenic organisms must report

themselves unable to be in the OR to protect the client from outside
pathogens

IX.

Scrubbed personnel wearing sterile attire should touch only sterile

items

X.
XI.

Sterile gowns and sterile drapes have defined borders for sterility.
The circulator and unsterile personnel must stay at the periphery of
the of the sterile operating area to keep the sterile area free from
contamination

XII.

Sterile supplies are unwrapped and delivered by the circulator

following

specific

standard

protocol

so

as

not

to

cause

contamination
XIII.

The utmost caution and vigilance must be used when handling

sterile fluids to prevent splashing or spillage

XIV.

Anything that is used for one client must be discarded or, in some
cases, resterilized

PARTS OF THE OXYGEN TANK

INTERNAL EXAMINATION

UNAUTHORIZED
PERSON/S
PLEASE DO NOT ENTER

NURSES STATION

NURSES STATION

VIEWING TIME

10-11 AM
3-5 PM

ALWAYS
KEEP THE
DOOR CLOSED

WEAR THE
SPECIFIED CLOTHING
(GOWNS AND SLIPPERS)
BEFORE ENTERING
THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

PLEASE WEAR

STERILE ATTIRE
BEFORE ENTERING

THE OPERATING ROOM

MEDICATION FREQUENCY
OD

8 AM

BID
TID
QID

8 AM 6 PM
8 AM 1 PM 6 PM
8 AM 4 PM 1 PM 6 PM

Medical Hand washing is the mechanical removal of microorganisms from the hands and
forearm with the use of soap and water.
Equipments Used:
1. bath soap in a soap dish
2. nail stick
3. hand towel
Points To Remember:
1. Jewelries must not be worn except for plain wedding rings for married individuals.
2. Fingernails should be short trimmed.
3. Fold sleeves approximately 2-3 inches from the elbows before starting the procedure.

Procedure:
1. Approach the sink. Stand in a comfortable position, leaning slightly towards but not touching the sink. This
is to reduce the number of microorganisms and less contamination. Maintain body mechanics.
2. Turn on the faucet. Take the necessary precautions not to wet your clothes.
3. Wet arms from elbows down to the fingertips, one after the other. Put your hands on down position without
touching any part of the sink. Hands are the most contaminated part to be washed. Water flows from least to
most contaminated area, rinsing microorganisms to the sink.
4. Get the soap. Wet with water and make a good lather. Use of antiseptic exclusively can be drying to hands
and can cause skin irritation. The decision whether to use an antiseptic should depend on the procedure to be
performed and the clients immune system. Rinse soap and return it without touching the soap dish. Close the
faucet.
5. Apply soap lather, starting from the elbow down to the wrist with strong rubbing and rotary sensation. Soap
cleanses by emulsifying fat and oil and lowering surface tension. friction and rubbing mechanically lessens and
removes dirt and terminates bacterias. Repeat the procedure with the other arm. Pay particular attention to the
palms, inter-digital areas, knuckles and the dorsal part of the hands.
6. Get the nail stick and clean the subungual areas, from the farthest to the nearest digit. Area under the nail
can be highly contaminated which will increase the risk of infection for the client. Discard the nail stick.
7. Soap the handle of the faucet and open it. Direct running water so that it flows from the elbows down to the
fingertips. Do the same with the other arm.
8. Rinse arms for the second time with strong rotary motion. Put particular attention to the palms, dorsal parts
of the hands and the subungual areas.
9. Rinse the handle of the faucet and close it. Drain water from the elbow to the fingertips by placing your
hands on down position.
10. Inspect knuckles for presence of excess soap and dirt. If so, repeat the procedure. If none proceed to the
next step.
11. Pat hands dry with towel from fingertips to elbows. Drying from the cleanest to least clean area.
12. Fold sides of the towel lengthwise inward, then fold crosswise and hang it with the smooth side facing you.
This is to prevent transfer of microorganisms.