The nurse is caring for a patient who has an order to change a dressing twice a day, at 0600 and 1800. At 1400, the nurse notices that the dressing is saturated. What is the nurse's next action?
a. Wait and change the dressing at 1800 as ordered.
b. Revise the plan of care and change the dressing now.
c. Reassess the dressing and the wound in 1 hour.
d. Discontinue the plan of care.
ANS: B
Based on evaluative data, the nurse revises, discontinues, or continues a patient's plan of care. Because the dressing is saturated, the nurse needs to revise the plan of care and change the dressing now. Waiting until 1800 or for another hour is not appropriate because assessment data reflect that the dressing is saturated and needs to be changed now. Data are insufficient to support discontinuing the plan of care. Instead, data at this time indicate the need for revision of the plan of care.
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