Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Date: ______________

Evaluator/Signature: ________________________________________________________ Grade: _____________

WIPING HANDS AND ARMS WITH STERILE TOWEL

Definition:

Purposes:
1.

2.

3.

Special Considerations:
1.

2.

Equipment:
● Sterile package
● Sterile towels

PERFORME
ACTION RATIONALE D REMARKS
YES NO

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSING COMPETENCY WORKBOOK 41

 1. Reach down to the opened sterile package
and pick up the towel directly as one, holding
it away at all times. Be careful not to drip
water onto the pack or touch sterile field with
your bare hands. Be sure no one is within
arm’s reach.

2. Step back and open towel full-length, holding

one full-length, holding one end away from
non-sterile scrub attire. Bend slightly forward
to avoid towel touching attire.
3. Dry both hands thoroughly by hold the towel in
opposite hand and using an oscillating motion of
the arm (slow, circular rotating motion) from
fingers up to the elbow. Never return to an area
you already dried.
4. Push the cuticles of your fingernails back with the
towel as you dry your hands.

5. Carefully reverse the towel, still holding it away

from the body. Dry the opposite arm on the
unused end of the towel.

6. Discard the towel.

7. Keep the hand in front and above waist.

Learner’s Reflection: (What did you learn most of the activity? What is its impact Instructor’s Comments:
to you?)

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSING COMPETENCY WORKBOOK 41

Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Date: ______________

Evaluator/Signature: ________________________________________________________ Grade: _____________

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSING COMPETENCY WORKBOOK 41

 GOWNING AND CLOSED GLOVING

Definition:

Purposes:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Special Considerations:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Equipment:
● Sterile package containing sterile gown

PERFORME
ACTION RATIONALE D REMARKS
YES NO
1. After scrubbing, dry one hand and arm, starting
with the hand and ending at the elbow, with one
end of the towel. Dry the other hand and arm

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSING COMPETENCY WORKBOOK 41

 with the opposite end of the towel. Drop the
towel.
2. Pick up the gown in such a manner that hands
touch only the inside surface at the neck and
shoulder seams.
3. Step back away from the table into
unobstructed area and extend the arms at
shoulder level.
4. Keeping arms extended and elbow slightly
flexed, locate the neck band and hold gown
securely with both hands.
5. Holding the inside front of the gown just below
the neckband with both hands, allow the gown to
unfold downward in front of you by gently
shaking it keeping the inside part of the gown
toward the body. Do not touch the outside of the
gown with bare hands.
6. Locate the arm holes.

7. Work your hands and arms carefully into the

gown and into the sleeves, as far as the seam
between the sleeve and the cuff. Take your
time and proceed slowly. Do not push your
hands out through the ends of the sleeves and
making sure the sleeves do not touch an
unsterile object.
8. The circulating nurse brings gown over the
shoulders by reaching inside to shoulder and
arm seams, pulling it securely onto shoulders
and tie the neck and back waistline ties.
PERFORME
ACTION RATIONALE D REMARKS
YES NO
9. Using the closed-glove technique, put on the
sterile gloves.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSING COMPETENCY WORKBOOK 41

a. Use your left hand still inside the gown
to pick up the folded edge of the right
glove.

b. Hold your right hand out, with the palm

up, still inside the sleeve.

c. Lay the right glove on the right palm

(which is still inside the sleeve). Position
it with the glove fingers pointing toward
the elbow and the cuff end pointing
toward the fingertips. The thumb of the
glove should be over the thumb of the
right hand.

d. Using the right hand (which is still inside

the gown sleeve) to grasp the bottom fold
of the cuff end of the right glove.

e. With the left hand (which is still inside

the gown sleeve), grasp the right glove
cuff by the top fold of the cuff end, and
pull the right glove cuff up and cover the
right gown cuff.

f. Adjust the right glove cuff over the right

gown cuff keeping the left hand inside
the gown.

g. Pick up the left glove with the gloved

right hand.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSING COMPETENCY WORKBOOK 41

 PERFORME
ACTION RATIONALE D REMARKS
YES NO
h. Hold left hand, palm up, inside the gown
sleeve.

i. Place the left glove on the left palm

(which is still inside the gown), with the
glove fingers pointing toward the elbow
and the cuff end pointing toward
fingertips. Position the glove thumb over
the left thumb of the hand.
j. Using the left hand (which is still inside
the gown) to grasp the bottom fold of the
cuff end of the left glove.

k. Grasp the top fold of the cuff edge with

the gloved right hand, and pull the glove
cuff up and over the gown cuff.

l. Work the left hand down into the left

glove.

m. Turn up and adjust the cuffs of both

gloves

n. Pull the glove fingers out at the ends to

reposition the fingers if necessary.

10. The gowned nurse bends forward to make

the ties fall away from the gown. These are
then tied by the circulating nurse after
grasping the end of the ties and by not
touching the front of the gown.
11. If the top of the gown drops downward or

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSING COMPETENCY WORKBOOK 41

 contaminated at any point, remove and discard
the gown and repeat the procedure.

Learner’s Reflection: (What did you learn most of the activity? What is its impact Instructor’s Comments:
to you?)

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSING COMPETENCY WORKBOOK 41

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSING COMPETENCY WORKBOOK 41