A nurse is planning to perform wound irrigation for a client who has an open secondary wound. When creating a sterile field, which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Set up the sterile field 7.6 cm (3 in) below waist level: Sterile fields should be positioned at or above waist level to maintain sterility. Setting up below waist level increases the risk of contamination from accidental contact or spills. B. Hold the bottle of sterile solution with the palm over the label while pouring: Covering the label with the palm prevents the solution from dripping onto the label and contaminating it. This ensures that the exterior of the bottle remains clean while maintaining sterility of the fluid being poured. C. Place the sterile items within 1 cm (0.4 in) of the edge of the sterile border: The outer 1–2.5 cm (approximately 0.4–1 in) of a sterile field is considered nonsterile. Placing items too close to the edge risks contamination, so sterile items should be kept well within the borders. D. Place the lid of a bottle of sterile solution within the sterile field: The inside of the lid is sterile only while in the upright position on the bottle. Placing it on the sterile field exposes it to potential contamination and is not recommended practice.