The nurse observes thin, watery fluid draining from the left ear of a patient who has sustained a head injury. How would the nurse document this drainage in the patient's chart?
a. Serous
b. Purulent
c. Cerebrospinal fluid
d. Serosanguineous
A
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A Serous drainage is clear, watery plasma.
B Purulent drainage is thick, yellow, green, tan, or brown.
C Without further testing, the nurse would be unable to know if this drainage is cerebrospinal fluid. The nurse should describe the drainage by its appearance (i.e., serous).
D Serosanguineous drainage is pale, red, and watery (i.e., a mixture of clear and red fluid).
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