The client has a large, deep abdominal incision that requires a dressing. The incision is packed ...

B
A sterile object (the packing) remains sterile only when touched by another sterile object. The client's abdomen is not sterile; therefore the nurse should throw the packing away and prepare a new one. After an object becomes nonsterile or unclean, it is considered contaminated.
The nurse should not add alcohol to the packing and insert it into the incision.
The packing is considered contaminated, as it touched a nonsterile surface, and therefore should be discarded.
The nurse should not rinse the packing with sterile water and put the packing into the incision, as it is considered contaminated when it touches a nonsterile surface. The nurse should throw the packing away and prepare a new one.