The nurse observes thin, watery fluid draining from the left ear of a client who has sustained a head injury. How is this drainage described?
a. Serous
b. Purulent
c. Cerebrospinal fluid
d. Serosanguineous
A
Serous drainage is clear, watery plasma.
Purulent drainage is thick, yellow, green, tan, or brown.
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).
Serosanguineous drainage is pale, red, and watery: a mixture of clear and red fluid.
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