Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has a surgical wound with a Penrose drain in place. Which of the following interventions should the nurse plan to perform?

A)Use the sterile technique when performing dressing changes The nurse should change the Penrose drain dressing using the surgical aseptic technique.
B)The nurse should identify that a cool room temperature with humidity between 30% and 60%, along with a proper air exchange and filtering system, reduces the risk of infection for clients during surgery.

Answer 1

The nurse should utilize sterile technique for dressing changes on a surgical wound with a Penrose drain to prevent contamination and potential sepsis, ensuring the patient's safety from infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

When caring for a client with a surgical wound that has a Penrose drain in place, the nurse should plan to use sterile technique when performing dressing changes. This involves creating and maintaining a sterile field to prevent contamination and the potential development of a sepsis condition. The nurse should use sterilized materials and follow strict handwashing protocols, especially before and after the dressing change, to reduce the normal microbiota on the skin that could introduce microbes into the patient's wound. These practices are critical in safeguarding the patient from bacterial infections, as historical medical figures like Joseph Lister have demonstrated with their successful reduction in surgical wound infections.