The nurse is assessing a client who had a surgical excision of a basal cell carcinoma one week ago. Assessment findings include redness, warmth, and serosanguinous drainage from the site. What would be the priority action by the nurse?
Request a prescription to culture the wound
Request a prescription for broad spectrum antibiotics
Assure the client this is normal in the healing process
Clean the wound with sterile normal saline
The Correct Answer is A
A. Requesting a prescription to culture the wound is the priority action because the presence of redness, warmth, and serosanguinous drainage could indicate an infection that needs to be confirmed and treated appropriately.
B. While antibiotics may be necessary if an infection is confirmed, it is crucial to first determine the presence of infection through culturing the wound.
C. Assuring the client that these findings are normal may delay necessary intervention if an infection is present, which could worsen the client's condition.
D. Cleaning the wound with sterile normal saline may be appropriate as part of wound care, but it does not address the underlying concern of possible infection and would not be prioritized over obtaining a culture.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
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B. The client with leukemia may require monitoring, but the antiemetic is pre-emptive and not immediately critical.
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D. The breast cancer client scheduled for radiation requires care but is not in an urgent condition compared to the neutropenic patient.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Chewing food on the unaffected side helps to prevent triggering pain episodes in the affected side of the face, which is critical for managing trigeminal neuralgia effectively.
B. While maintaining oral hygiene is important, the timing of brushing teeth is less critical than managing pain during eating. Brushing teeth should be done gently to avoid pain but is not specifically prioritized over other interventions.
C. Avoiding an electric razor is not relevant to managing trigeminal neuralgia pain; it relates more to safety and comfort in shaving rather than pain management.
D. Food should not be served hot or cold as extreme temperatures can trigger pain in trigeminal neuralgia patients; it's better to serve food at a moderate temperature.