A nurse is assisting with a community health presentation about home safety precautions when there is an outdoor chemical disaster nearby. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

By using short, simple sentences, the nurse can effectively communicate with the client who is exhibiting signs of agitation and anxiety. This communication style can help reduce stress and confusion for the client and promote understanding.

Asking the client if they would like to watch television: While providing options for activities can be beneficial, it is important to address the client's current state of agitation and anxiety before suggesting any specific activities.

Allowing the client to have 1 hour of time alone in their room: While some clients may prefer solitude, in this case, the client's pacing and hand-wringing indicate signs of distress and may require therapeutic interventions rather than isolation.

Moving the client to a table where other clients are playing cards: This option may not address the client's current state of anxiety and pacing. Placing the client in a social setting with other clients might increase their distress and agitation.

When removing the dressing and cleaning the wound, it is important to start from the center of the wound and work towards the outer edges. This technique helps prevent contamination of the wound by minimizing the risk of dragging bacteria or debris from the surrounding skin into the wound.

The other options listed are not recommended for this specific procedure:

When removing the tape, it is generally recommended to pull it parallel to the skin surface rather than pulling from the center of the dressing. This technique reduces the risk of causing trauma or disrupting the wound.

While it is important to maintain aseptic technique during dressing changes, wearing sterile gloves is not necessary for a wet-to-dry dressing change. Clean, non-sterile gloves are typically sufficient for this procedure, as the dressing material itself is not sterile.

In a wet-to-dry dressing change, the dressing is typically applied moist and allowed to dry over time. Therefore, moistening the dressing before removal is not necessary. The primary goal is to remove the dry dressing, which may adhere to the wound bed, and then clean the wound before applying a fresh dressing.