In terms of personal protective equipment, what is the correct order of placement for a surgical assistant who prefers a small paper gown and size 6 gloves?

The correct order of placement for personal protective equipment is crucial in ensuring the safety and sterility of the surgical environment. In this scenario, the appropriate sequence begins with donning the small paper gown first. This is because the gown provides a barrier against contamination and maintains the sterile field.

After the gown is put on, the gloves should be worn. However, the size of the gloves must correspond appropriately to the wearer. Although the answer includes size 7 gloves, this may denote a preference, but for the sake of the sequence, the gloves are typically donned after the gown to ensure that the surgical assistant is properly protected without compromising sterility.

This sequence avoids contamination and ensures that the assistant is fully dressed in sterile attire before handling surgical instruments or materials. By maintaining the integrity of the protective layers, we minimize the risk of surgical site infections and other complications related to improper PPE usage.

The other choices present variations that either start with gloves, list unnecessary or incorrect sizes of gowns or gloves, or fail to maintain the proper sterile order—each of which could lead to a breakdown in asepsis and raise the potential for contamination during surgery.