A patient who has diabetes is admitted for an exploratory laparotomy for abdominal pain. When planning interventions to promote wound healing, what is the nurse's highest priority?
a. Maintaining the patient's blood glucose within a normal range
b. Ensuring that the patient has an adequate dietary protein intake
c. Giving antipyretics to keep the temperature less than 102° F (38.9° C)
d. Redressing the surgical incision with a dry, sterile dressing twice daily
ANS: A
Elevated blood glucose will have an impact on multiple factors involved in wound healing. Ensuring adequate nutrition also is important for the postoperative patient, but a higher priority is blood glucose control. A temperature of 102° F will not impact adversely on wound healing, although the nurse may administer antipyretics if the patient is uncomfortable. Application of a dry, sterile dressing daily may be ordered, but frequent dressing changes for a wound healing by primary intention is not necessary to promote wound healing.
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