Final answer:
To maintain a sterile field during a dressing change, a nurse should wear sterile gloves, avoid touching the field with bare hands, keep it at waist level, and open packages away from the field, following strict aseptic techniques.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse setting up a sterile field for a dressing change must take specific actions to maintain the sterility of the environment. The correct actions include wearing sterile gloves, avoiding any direct contact with the sterile field with bare hands, keeping the sterile field at or above waist level to prevent contamination from surfaces below, and opening sterile packages by unfolding them away from the sterile field to avoid contamination. All these practices are critical in preserving a sterile environment and preventing sepsis.
These procedures are grounded in robust aseptic techniques that are designed to prevent microbes from contaminating sterile surfaces. This is achieved through thorough handwashing procedures, the use of protective barriers such as gloves and gowns, and strict adherence to protocols during the setup and maintenance of sterile fields. Handwashing is critical, and should be performed after removing gloves, contact with bodily fluids, and before and after invasive procedures. Proper techniques during media transfer and the handling of sterile equipment, like the use of pipettes, are also key components of maintaining asepsis.