Which item is listed as the first step in preparing a patient for surgery?

• A. Catheter
• B. Prep
• C. Draping
• D. Sterilization

Answer: (A)

Securing urinary drainage when indicated often comes first because it directly supports a clean, controlled operative field. Inserting a catheter empties the bladder and provides a controlled urine output, which reduces the chance of urine contamination or leakage onto the sterile drapes during the procedure. It also minimizes the need to disrupt the sterile setup later to manage bladder fullness and helps the team monitor fluid balance throughout the operation. Once catheterization is done, the skin can be prepped with antiseptic solution in a clean, dry area around the planned incision, then draping is applied to maintain a sterile field. Sterilization of instruments and equipment is essential for the overall OR readiness but is not part of the patient-prepping sequence itself.