A nurse is performing sterile wound irrigation on a client who has a gunshot wound on his right upper arm. Which precaution should the nurse take after opening the irrigation solution?

Question

A) Pour solution with the bottle label facing away from the palm.
B) Place bottle cover on the table with the inside facing downward.
C) Wear sterile gloves and then pour the irrigation solution.
D) Discard a small amount of the solution before use.

Answer 1

D
Feedback:
The nurse should discard a small amount of the solution before use to wash away potential microorganisms from the mouth of the container. The nurse should pour the solution with the bottle label facing his or her palm to prevent making the label unreadable in case the solution spills. The nurse should place the cover on the table with the inside facing upward and not downward to prevent it from becoming contaminated by the table surface. The nurse should pour the solution before putting on sterile gloves, because the outside of the bottle is not sterile.