A nurse is preparing to perform a sterile dressing change on a client's postoperative abdominal wound. Which action should the nurse take FIRST to minimize the risk of introducing infection?
Put on clean gloves to open the sterile dressing kit.
Disinfect the bedside work surface with an approved germicidal wipe.
Wash hands thoroughly before handling the sterile supplies.
Keep the sterile field within direct line of sight at all times.
Performing thorough hand hygiene immediately before touching any sterile supplies is the first and most effective barrier against introducing microorganisms during an aseptic procedure. CDC identifies hand hygiene as the single most important practice to reduce transmission, and the WHO/CDC "Five Moments" specify cleaning hands just before an aseptic task. While disinfecting the work surface, wearing gloves, and keeping the sterile field in sight are important aspects of sterile technique, none of them will protect the supplies or the wound if the nurse's hands are already contaminated.
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