The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient with an incision. Which actions will the nurse take to decrease wound infections? (Select all that apply.)
a. Maintain normoglycemia.
b. Use a straight razor to remove hair.
c. Provide bath and linen change daily.
d. Perform first dressing change 2 days postoperatively.
e. Perform hand hygiene before and after contact with the patient.
f. Administer antibiotics within 60 minutes before surgical incision.
ANS: A, E
Performing hand hygiene before and after contact with the patient helps to decrease the number of microorganisms and break the chain of infection. Maintaining blood glucose levels at less than 150 mg/dL has resulted in decreased wound infection. Removing unwanted hair by clipping instead of shaving decreases the numbers of nicks and cuts caused by a razor and the potential for the introduction of microbes. The patient is postoperative; administration of an antibiotic 60 minutes before the surgical incision supports the defense against infection preoperatively. Providing a bath and linen change daily is positive but is not necessarily important for infection control. Many surgeons prefer to change surgical dressings the first time so they can inspect the incisional area, but this is done before 2 days postoperatively.
You might also like to view...
A 78-year-old man has been experiencing nocturnal chest pain over the last several months, and his family physician has diagnosed him with variant angina
Which of the following teaching points should the physician include in his explanation of the man's new diagnosis? A) "I'll be able to help track the course of your angina through regular blood work that we will schedule at a lab in the community." B) "With some simple lifestyle modifications and taking your heparin regularly, we can realistically cure you of this." C) "I'm going to start you on low-dose aspirin, and it will help greatly if you can lose weight and keep exercising." D) "There are things you can do to reduce the chance that you will need a heart bypass, including limiting physical activity as much as possible."
An adult survivor of a fire is experiencing a high level of anxiety. Which communication technique would be most helpful for this client?
A) Open-ended questions B) Reflection C) Closed-ended questions D) Suggesting collaboration
The nurse is presenting a prenatal class to a group of women pregnant for the first time who are all over 35 years of age. The nurse knows that the advantage of waiting until later to start a family is:
1. That the woman will have an easier labor and delivery. 2. That the baby will be at less of a risk for congenital anomalies. 3. That the woman is more likely to be financially secure. 4. That the woman will be more fertile than a younger woman would.
The LPN/LVN describes herself as "working in an expanded role in a long-term care facility." What is the most correct interpretation of this statement?
a. The LPN/LVN is able to administer oral medications. b. The LPN/LVN is a first-line manager responsible to the RN. c. The LPN/LVN formulates nursing diagnoses and care plans. d. The LPN/LVN interprets and implements research findings.