A medical assistant in a provider's office is cleaning a patient's jagged, contaminated wound. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?
Irrigate the wound with sterile normal saline.
Insert liquid bandage into the wound.
Wash the wound with soap and warm water.
Apply microporous tape to the wound.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Irrigate the wound with sterile normal saline. Irrigating the wound with sterile normal saline is the appropriate action for cleaning a contaminated wound, as it helps to remove debris and reduce the risk of infection.
B. Insert liquid bandage into the wound. A liquid bandage is not appropriate for a contaminated wound, especially if the wound is jagged, as it could trap contaminants inside.
C. Wash the wound with soap and warm water. While soap and water are good for general wound cleaning, sterile normal saline is preferred for contaminated wounds in a clinical setting to minimize irritation and infection.
D. Apply microporous tape to the wound. Microporous tape is used for securing dressings, not for cleaning wounds.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Ensure the skin is clean and dry. This is the correct action. Sweating can interfere with electrode adhesion and signal quality, so the skin should be cleaned and dried to ensure a good contact for accurate EKG readings.
B. Apply conductive gel to the patient's chest. Conductive gel is typically used with certain types of electrodes, but in the case of disposable adhesive EKG electrodes, it is not necessary and may not improve tracing quality.
C. Shave the electrode sites. Shaving may be necessary if the patient has a lot of body hair, but it is not the first step when dealing with sweating. Drying the skin is more immediate and essential.
D. Place the electrodes below the clavicle. Electrode placement should follow standard EKG guidelines, and moving them to non-standard positions like below the clavicle can result in inaccurate readings.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. A steady pulse rhythm in a 16-year-old male patient. A steady pulse rhythm is normal and within the expected range for a 16-year-old male.
B. A pulse rate of 68/min in a 35-year-old female patient: A pulse rate of 68/min is within the normal resting heart rate range for a 35-year-old female (60-100/min).
C. A bounding pulse volume in a 56-year-old male patient: A bounding pulse volume indicates an unusually strong pulse, which could be a sign of hypertension or other circulatory issues and should be reported.
D. A pulse rate of 120/min in a 22-year-old female patient: A pulse rate of 120/min is above the normal range (tachycardia) and should be reported, as it could indicate a cardiac or systemic problem.