Question

A physician orders a wound irrigation to apply an antiseptic to a client's wound. The nurse will follow which guideline for performing this procedure?

a. Use sterile water for irrigation.
b. Irrigate from the center of the wound outward.
c. Apply antiseptic directly to the wound surface.
d. Use a high-pressure irrigation system.

Answer 1

The nurse should irrigate a wound from the center outward when applying an antiseptic, using sterile water and maintain aseptic technique to prevent infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a physician orders wound irrigation with an antiseptic, the nurse should follow the guideline of irrigating from the center of the wound outward. This technique avoids contamination of the surrounding areas and helps to ensure that the antiseptic is applied where it is most needed. Antiseptics such as Betadine, an iodophor povidone-iodine solution, are suitable for tissue microbial control to prevent infection. A sterile water or saline solution is often used for irrigation to maintain a sterile environment and to avoid introducing new pathogens. Moreover, proper aseptic technique is critical to prevent sepsis and includes techniques like flaming the opening of the tube or bottle to discourage airborne contaminants during transfers. For home administration of an antimicrobial to treat a systemic infection, an oral route is often considered convenient and appropriate.