CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

When walking past a sterile nurse in the OR, what is the proper position to maintain sterility?

1. Face to face

2. Side by side

3. Back to back

4. Turning away

The correct answer is: Back to back

Maintaining sterility in the operating room (OR) is crucial for preventing infections during surgical procedures. When it comes to the position you should maintain while passing a sterile nurse, the key is to avoid any direct contact that may compromise the sterile field. Positioning yourself back to back with a sterile nurse is the safest option. This way, both individuals preserve their sterile areas without risking any contamination that could occur from a face-to-face or side-by-side encounter. The act of turning away or passing back to back minimizes the chance of reaching or bumping into the sterile field, thus ensuring a higher level of safety within the OR environment. Passing in other positions, such as face to face or side by side, can lead to accidental contact with sterile instruments or drapes, which could introduce pathogens and compromise the sterility required for the surgical procedure. Hence, back to back is the preferred method to maintain proper sterile protocols in an OR setting.