Question

Which action should the nurse avoid before irrigating a patient's foot wound?

a. Assess the patient for a history of allergies to tape and irrigating solution.
b. Review the provider's orders for the type of irrigating solution to be used.
c. Assess the patient's pain on a scale of 0 to 10.
d. Warm the irrigant to body temperature in the microwave.

Answer 1

The nurse should avoid warming the irrigant to body temperature in the microwave before irrigating a patient's foot wound to prevent potential harm.

Step-by-step explanation:

The action that the nurse should avoid before irrigating a patient's foot wound is to warm the irrigant to body temperature in the microwave.

Warming the irrigant in the microwave can lead to uneven temperatures and can potentially harm the patient's foot. In addition, microwaving solutions can cause them to become too hot and may result in burns or injuries.

It is important to use solutions that are already at body temperature or warmed using appropriate methods to ensure patient safety.