Why Candidates Fail the Non-Sterile Dressing Change Skill
The new dressing must never be contaminated before application — candidates who touch it barehanded or place it on a non-clean surface fail the skill. The soiled dressing must be removed with one gloved hand and disposed of without touching the outside of the waste bag. A new pair of gloves must be applied before handling the clean dressing. Candidates must observe and verbally report wound appearance (color, drainage, odor) to the evaluator as part of completing the skill.
How this skill is evaluated
The evaluator scores each skill on a pass/fail checklist. You do not get partial credit. A single critical error — or several minor ones — will fail you on this skill entirely. You must pass all 5 randomly selected skills to pass the clinical exam.
The 5 Most Common Failure Points
Using the same gloves to remove the old dressing and apply the new one — this is a cross-contamination error.
Forgetting to wash hands between glove changes.
Cleaning the wound from the outer edges inward — always clean center outward.
Not noting drainage characteristics when removing the soiled dressing.
Not securing all edges of the new dressing with tape.
Exactly What the Evaluator Is Watching
These are the specific checkpoints on the evaluator's score sheet for this skill.
- ✓
First gloves used to remove soiled dressing; second clean pair used to apply new dressing.
- ✓
Hands are washed between removing the soiled dressing and applying the new one.
- ✓
Wound is inspected and drainage is noted.
- ✓
Soiled materials are contained and disposed of properly.
- ✓
Wound cleaning moves from clean to dirty (center outward).
How to Avoid These Mistakes on Exam Day
These tips come from the most common failure patterns in Non-Sterile Dressing Change.
- →
Two pairs of gloves: one to remove, wash hands, one to apply. Never skip this step.
- →
Note drainage before discarding the old dressing — color, amount, odor.
- →
Clean wound: center outward, using a fresh gauze for each stroke.
- →
Report any sign of infection (increased redness, pus, warmth) to the nurse immediately.
Practice the written exam too
The written NNAAP test covers the knowledge behind every clinical skill. 501 free questions.
Take the Practice Test →