Final answer:
The priority nursing intervention for a chemotherapy patient with sepsis is to inspect all potential infection entry sites. Subsequently, changing dressings, considering reverse isolation, and restricting contact with infected individuals are crucial to prevent contamination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The patient who is receiving chemotherapy through a central line and has been diagnosed with sepsis requires immediate and prioritized nursing interventions. Considering the urgent nature of sepsis, a life-threatening response to infection, and the potential for a central line to serve as a direct entry path for pathogens, specific interventions take precedence to stabilize the patient's condition. In this scenario, the priority nursing intervention should be to inspect all sites that may serve as entry ports for bacteria, as this could quickly identify the source of the infection and facilitate immediate treatment. Additionally, the use of a checklist during medical procedures to maintain a sterile field, such as advised by Dr. Pronovost, can help prevent such infections.
Following the inspection, other measures such as changing the dressing over the site of the central line, placing the client in reverse isolation if necessary based on the patient's condition and hospital protocol, and restricting contact with persons having known or recent infections become crucial steps to prevent further contamination and ensure recovery.