What nursing action is the best way to prevent infection in a postoperative patient?
a. Practice good hand washing.
b. Assess vital signs every 4 hours.
c. Change wound dressings daily.
d. Encourage 2 L of fluid daily.
ANS: A
Hand washing is the best defense against infection. Assessing vital signs will detect, not prevent, infection. Changing dressings is important, but without hand washing, this is not helpful in preventing infection. Fluids prevent dehydration but do not directly affect infection risk.
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When caring for a 32-year-old Hispanic male who has become disabled, the rehabilitation team will set the priority of treatment goals based on the:
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A postpartum patient has a history of thrombophlebitis. What should the nurse do to determine if the patient is developing this after delivery?
A) Assess for warmth in the legs. B) Assess temperature every 4 hours. C) Assess for calf redness and edema. D) Palpate the feet for tingling or numbness.
When cold is applied to the skin, blood vessels:
a. Dilate b. Constrict c. Collapse d. Become less elastic
A nurse is leading a seminar with middle school students on healthy food choices at the community health center every Tuesday. The nurse knows that the seminar is a form of:
A) Secondary Prevention B) Tertiary Prevention C) Primary Prevention D) Complication Prevention