The nurse is preparing to change the dressing of a client who had abdominal surgery 3 days ago.The nurse notes that the incision has purulent drainage and appears very puffy.The client states that the pain level has increased from a 3 to a 7 in the last 24 hours.Which is the nurse's next action in regard to this client's wound?
A)Clean the wound,place a new dressing,and plan to recheck the incision in 4 hours.
B)Contact the client's surgeon after obtaining the client's vital signs.
C)Recognize that this is an expected outcome for a client on the third day after surgery.
D)Culture the wound drainage and redress the wound.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of purulent drainage, increased puffiness, and a significant increase in pain level are signs of a possible infection or complication. The nurse's next action should be to contact the client's surgeon after obtaining the client's vital signs to report these findings and receive further instructions.

The Nurse Is Preparing to Change the Dressing of a Client