A patient who is recovering from abdominal surgery has a Penrose drain. What should the nurse include in the care of this patient?
1. Make sure there is a safety pin on the end of the drain.
2. Empty the drain every 30 minutes.
3. Clean the wound with normal saline every two hours.
4. Remove the drain four hours postoperatively.
Correct Answer: 1
Penrose drains need a safety pin at the exposed end to prevent the drain from slipping down into the wound. Unless full or assessing for a potential problem, there is no need to empty the drain until the end of the shift. There is no need to clean the wound with saline. Removal of the drain requires a physician's order.
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