More Questions on This Topic
More Questions on This Topic ( 10 Questions)
A nurse is preparing to change a wet-to-dry dressing for a client who has a chronic wound on the lower leg. Which action by the nurse demonstrates proper technique?
This can rehydrate necrotic tissue and reduce debridement.
This can interfere with debridement and increase the risk of infection and resistance.
Rationale: Wet-to-dry dressings are used for mechanical debridement of necrotic tissue from chronic wounds. The new dressing should be moistened with sterile water (not saline, as saline can cause sodium crystals to form on the wound bed and impair healing), wrung out to remove excess moisture (to prevent maceration of surrounding skin), and loosely packed into the wound (to allow contact with necrotic tissue). The old dressing should be removed dry (not soaked, as soaking can rehydrate necrotic tissue and reduce debridement).
This can create a moist environment that promotes bacterial growth and infection.
Correct answer: C) Moistening the new dressing with sterile water before wringing it out and applying it to the wound
Rationale: Wet-to-dry dressings are used for mechanical debridement of necrotic tissue from chronic wounds. The new dressing should be moistened with sterile water (not saline, as saline can cause sodium crystals to form on the wound bed and impair healing), wrung out to remove excess moisture (to prevent maceration of surrounding skin), and loosely packed into the wound (to allow contact with necrotic tissue). The old dressing should be removed dry (not soaked, as soaking can rehydrate necrotic tissue and reduce debridement).
Incorrect options:
A) Soaking the old dressing with sterile saline before removing it - This can rehydrate necrotic tissue and reduce debridement.
B) Applying antibiotic ointment to the new dressing before placing it on the wound - This can interfere with debridement and increase the risk of infection and resistance.
D) Covering the new dressing with an occlusive secondary dressing to prevent evaporation - This can create a moist environment that promotes bacterial growth and infection.