Final answer:
Typically, a nursing assistant would weigh the dressing before and after applying it to a chest wound to track exudate amounts, as this aids in monitoring the wound's healing progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
The action of a nursing assistant in dressing a chest wound would most typically involve weighing the dressing before and after application to measure the exudate and ensure proper wound management. This is an important step in wound care, as it helps keep track of drainage amounts which can indicate the level of infection or the healing status of the wound.
Therefore, the correct answer is a. weighing the dressing before and after application. Actions such as inserting the catheter, adjusting the flow rate, and cleaning the patient’s mouth, nose, and nostrils are important in other contexts but are not typical actions specific to dressing a chest wound.