A sterile package is opened facing away from the nurse, so the contents fall directly onto the sterile field. The risk of non-sterility increases with time at the bedside. Thus, sterile packages should be opened as close to the time of the procedure as possible. Table drapes are only sterile to waist level, not knee level. Non-sterile items should never cross the sterile field. If they do, the sterile field is now non-sterile.