The nurse is changing the dressing on an open abdominal surgical wound. How should the nurse proceed?
1. Complete the dressing change as quickly as possible.
2. Thoroughly irrigate the wound with cool normal saline.
3. Remove the old dressing and leave the wound open to air for a few minutes prior to redressing.
4. Clean the wound edges with hydrogen peroxide prior to redressing the wound.
1
Rationale 1: Quick completion of the dressing change reduces cooling of the wound tissues.
Rationale 2: Cool normal saline would reduce the temperature of the wound, which is not desirable.
Rationale 3: The wound should not be left open to the air, which is drying and may be filled with pathogens.
Rationale 4: Hydrogen peroxide disrupts growing tissue and should not be used in or around the wound.
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