Question

A patient had abdominal surgery last week and returns to the clinic for follow-up. The nurse assesses thick, white, malodorous drainage. How should the nurse document this drainage?

Serous
Purulent
Fibrinous
Catarrhal

Answer 1

The nurse should document the thick, white, malodorous drainage that the patient is experiencing post abdominal surgery as purulent, which suggests an infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient had abdominal surgery last week and returns to the clinic for follow-up. The nurse notes thick, white, malodorous drainage from the surgical site. This type of drainage is best documented as purulent. Purulent drainage is indicative of an infection and is characterized by its thick often yellow or green color, and a foul odor as described.

This contrasts with other types of drainage such as serous (clear, watery), fibrinous (thick, sticky and may contain fibrinogen), and catarrhal (mucous-like). It is critical for the nurse to accurately document this finding as it will guide further treatment and care for the patient.