Final answer:
During hemodialysis, nurses must use sterile techniques for needle insertion, adhere to standard precautions, and maintain patient comfort, all while monitoring the treatment process to ensure safety and sterility.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a client is about to begin hemodialysis, there are several measures that a nurse should employ in the care of the client. These measures are essential to ensure both the safety of the patient and the clinical staff, and the effectiveness of the treatment:
- Using sterile technique for needle insertion—this is crucial to prevent infections as maintaining a sterile field is vital during procedures with a high risk for contamination.
- Using standard precautions in the care of the client—this includes wearing gloves, mask, and sometimes goggles to protect against potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
- It is not typical to cover the connection site with a blanket for warmth, but maintaining patient comfort in a different safe manner is also important.
It's also important to continuously assess patient needs and monitor the dialysis process. The nurse should review patients' history and current condition, ensuring that all equipment is properly prepared and that procedures are correctly followed to maintain sterility and prevent infection.