RN Exam Practice
Safety and Infection ControlQuestion 1599 of 2368

A nurse is pouring sterile saline into a sterile bowl on a sterile field. Which technique is correct?

  1. Hold the bottle directly over the field to avoid spills
  2. Pause the pour and then restart it to measure the amount
  3. Splash the solution into the bowl to mix it well
  4. Hold the bottle about 6 inches from the field and pour from the side
Show answer

Correct answer: Hold the bottle about 6 inches from the field and pour from the side

Pouring from the side at about six inches avoids contaminating the field; once pouring stops the bottle edge is contaminated, and splashing causes wicking.

Source: Nursing Skills, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Aseptic Technique: STERILE FIELDS. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Safety and Infection Control"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026