A nurse is caring for a client who has pruritus following treatment for scabies. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A rationale: Transparent dressings are commonly used for stage I pressure ulcers as they provide a protective barrier against external contaminants while allowing for visualization of the wound. This type of dressing helps maintain a moist environment to facilitate healing.
Choice B rationale: Hydrogel dressings are typically used for wounds with necrotic tissue or those that require a moist environment. They may not be the first choice for a stage I pressure ulcer with intact skin.
Choice C rationale: Wet-to-dry dressings are often used for wounds with debris or infection. They involve placing moist gauze into the wound and allowing it to dry, promoting debridement. This is not suitable for an intact stage I pressure ulcer.
Choice D rationale: Alginate dressings are absorbent and are more appropriate for wounds with moderate to heavy exudate. They may not be necessary for a stage I pressure ulcer with minimal or no exudate.

- A: Swabbing the wound bed is an essential step in obtaining a wound culture, but it is not the first action that should be taken. This step is performed after the wound has been cleansed to ensure that the sample is not contaminated with debris or bacteria from the surrounding skin.
- B: Cleansing the area around the wound with sterile saline is the correct first step. This action helps to remove any contaminants or debris from the wound surface, ensuring that the culture obtained is from the wound itself and not from the surrounding skin, which could lead to inaccurate results.
- C: Donning sterile gloves is a crucial step to maintain sterility during the procedure. However, it is not the first action because the nurse must first cleanse the wound area to prevent contamination of the culture specimen.
- D: Placing the collection tube in a specimen bag is done after obtaining the wound culture to transport the specimen to the laboratory. This is one of the final steps in the process, not the first.