Question

A nurse is to teach a patient how to change a dressing and irrigate a wound that resulted from the separation of wound edges of an incision and that is healing by secondary intention. The nurse reviews the primary health-care provider's orders, obtains the patient's vital signs, and assesses the patient. Which should the nurse do next?

1. Administer the prescribed pain medication and reassess the patient in 30 minutes.
2. Teach the patient how to irrigate the wound and change the dressing.
3. Notify the primary health-care provider of the patient's status.
4. Wait 15 minutes and retake the patient's vital signs.

Answer 1

The nurse should administer the prescribed pain medication and reassess the patient in 30 minutes before proceeding to teach the patient how to change the dressing and irrigate the wound that is healing by secondary intention.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a nurse is preparing to teach a patient how to change a dressing and irrigate a wound that is healing by secondary intention, after reviewing the primary healthcare provider's orders, obtaining the patient's vital signs, and assessing the patient, the next step should be to administer the prescribed pain medication and reassess the patient in 30 minutes. This approach aligns with ensuring the patient's comfort and ability to participate in learning the procedure effectively. It is an essential step in patient care to minimize discomfort during wound care which can be significant if the wound is being irrigated or if a dressing is being changed. Once pain management has been addressed, the nurse can proceed with teaching the patient how to irrigate the wound and change the dressing. This education should include instructions on maintaining sterility and avoiding infection, as well as the signs of infection to watch for, such as increased redness, swelling, and pain.