Two standards govern wound care — clean and sterile. Choosing the wrong one can introduce infection where none existed. Understanding the distinction, and following the care plan, is fundamental.

Section 01

Sterile Technique

Sterile technique means everything contacting the wound is free of all microorganisms including spores. It requires:

  • Sterile field: A designated area (sterile drape) where all materials are kept. Nothing non-sterile may enter.
  • Sterile gloves: Specifically packaged and donned to maintain external sterility.
  • Sterile supplies only: All wound-contact items must be sterile and previously unopened.
  • No-touch technique: Sterile items are touched only with sterile gloved hands or sterile instruments.
Section 02

Clean Technique

Clean technique reduces organisms using medical asepsis without requiring complete sterility. It requires:

  • Clean (non-sterile) gloves: Standard examination gloves.
  • Clean supplies: New, unopened supplies — not necessarily sterile.
  • Avoiding contamination: Not touching wound-contact surface of dressings before application.
  • Thorough hand hygiene: Before and after, and between tasks.
Section 03

Which Technique — When

💡 Follow the care plan specification
Sterile technique typically required for: Acute surgical wounds in early healing, IV site care, urinary catheter insertion, immunocompromised clients with open wounds.

Clean technique may be acceptable for: Chronic wounds (pressure injuries, venous ulcers, diabetic foot in later healing stages) per care plan.

When uncertain: ask the supervising nurse before performing the dressing.
Section 04

Maintaining the Sterile Field

🚨 A sterile field is contaminated if:
  • A non-sterile item touches it
  • A sterile item is dropped or falls below waist level
  • The field is left unattended
  • A non-sterile person reaches across it
  • Packaging is damaged, wet, or expired
  • You are uncertain whether contamination occurred
When in doubt — it is contaminated. Start over rather than risk infection with a compromised field.
Section 05

Home Setting Challenges

✓ Adapting to an uncontrolled environment
  • Choose the cleanest available flat surface and clean it before setup
  • Keep pets out of the room during wound care
  • Avoid fans or open windows that create drafts over the sterile field
  • Never reach across or pass anything over the sterile field
  • If proper sterile technique is impossible: document and report to nurse — a home visit may be needed to adapt the care plan
Knowledge Check

Lesson 2 Quiz

5 questions · Passing score: 80%
Question 1
The key difference between sterile and clean technique is:
Question 2
A sterile glove package is visibly wet when retrieved from your bag. You should:
Question 3
During a sterile wound dressing, you accidentally drop a piece of sterile gauze on the floor. You should:
Question 4
When uncertain whether a care plan's specified technique is still appropriate, you should:
Question 5
Air movement from fans or open windows poses a specific risk to a sterile field because: