A nurse is delegating care to assistive personnel. Which of the following assignments should the nurse make?

A) Asking a staff member from another unit to complete the evaluation: While involving someone from another unit may offer an external perspective, it may not necessarily ensure impartiality. The evaluator should have direct knowledge of the nurse's performance to provide a fair assessment.

B) Focusing primarily on areas that need improvement: This approach may lead to a biased evaluation, as it overlooks the nurse's strengths and positive contributions. A comprehensive evaluation should consider both areas of strength and areas needing improvement to provide a balanced assessment.

C) Discussing the evaluation with the nurse manager: Consulting with the nurse manager about the evaluation could introduce bias, especially if the manager has preconceived notions about the nurse being evaluated. Peer evaluations should aim to be independent of managerial influence to maintain impartiality.

D) Linking the evaluation to predetermined standards: This is the correct approach to ensure impartiality in peer evaluation. By using predetermined standards or criteria, the evaluation process becomes objective and transparent. Evaluators can assess the nurse's performance against established benchmarks, reducing the influence of personal bias.

A) Select the appropriate dressing:

Choosing the appropriate dressing is an essential step in the process of changing a wound dressing. However, before selecting a dressing, the nurse should first review the available dressing types to ensure that the choice is based on a comprehensive understanding of the client's wound characteristics, such as size, depth, exudate level, and presence of infection. Jumping straight to selecting a dressing without reviewing available options may result in choosing an inadequate or inappropriate dressing for the client's specific wound care needs.

B) Review available dressing types:

This is the most appropriate initial step in the process of changing a wound dressing. Before proceeding with the dressing change, the nurse should assess the client's wound and review the available dressing types to determine which one is most suitable. Factors to consider include the wound's characteristics, such as size, depth, and exudate level, as well as any specific requirements based on the stage of the pressure ulcer and the client's overall condition. Reviewing available dressing types ensures that the nurse makes an informed decision and selects the most appropriate dressing for promoting wound healing and preventing complications.

C) Document the dressing change:

Documentation is an essential aspect of wound care, as it provides a record of the client's progress, the interventions performed, and the client's response to treatment. While documenting the dressing change is important, it should occur after the dressing change itself. Documenting before completing the dressing change could lead to incomplete or inaccurate documentation, as the nurse may need to record details about the wound's appearance, the type of dressing used, and any observations made during the procedure.

D) Change the dressing:

Changing the dressing is a necessary step in the wound care process, but it should not be the first action taken without assessing the wound and reviewing available dressing options. Proceeding directly to changing the dressing without considering the client's specific wound care needs and available dressing types may result in suboptimal wound management and compromise the client's healing process.