A newly hired experienced nurse is preparing to change a patient's abdominal dressing and hasn't done it before at this hospital. Which action by the nurse is best?

Question

a. Have another nurse do it so the correct method can be viewed.
b. Change the dressing using the method taught in nursing school.
c. Ask the patient how the dressing change has been recently done.
d. Check the policy and procedure manual for the facility's method.

Answer 1

ANS: D
The Joint Commission requires accredited hospitals to have written nursing policies and procedures. These internal standards of care are specific and need to be accessible on all nursing units. For example, a policy/procedure outlining the steps to follow when changing a dressing or administering medication provides specific information about how nurses are to perform. The nurse being observed may not be doing the procedure according to the facility's policy or procedure. The procedure taught in nursing school may not be consistent with the policy or procedure for this facility. The patient is not responsible for maintaining the standards of practice. Patient input is important, but it's not what directs nursing practice.