NCLEX RN Practice Question

The most critical step to prevent infection is performing proper hand hygiene before starting the procedure. Hands are a primary vector for transmitting pathogens, and effective handwashing or sanitizing removes potentially harmful microorganisms. While other steps, such as wearing gloves or preparing the sterile field, are also important, they are ineffective if the nurse's hands are contaminated. For example, wearing gloves over unwashed hands could still transfer pathogens to the sterile environment.