A nurse is planning postoperative care for a client who is scheduled for a thoracotomy with chest tube placement.
Which of the following pieces of equipment should the nurse plan to have at the client's bedside?

Choice A rationale:

Taking corrective measures to enforce hand hygiene should not be the first step. It is important to establish a baseline and understand the current situation through data collection and analysis before implementing corrective measures.

Choice B rationale:

Establishing methods for collecting data within the facility is a crucial first step. Gathering information about the current hand hygiene practices, compliance rates, and areas of improvement is essential for the audit process. Data collection provides a factual basis for identifying problems and implementing targeted interventions.

Choice C rationale:

Comparing the facility's data with the established criteria for hand hygiene is a subsequent step after data collection. This step helps in evaluating the current practices against the accepted standards and guidelines. However, it is not the first step in the audit process.

Choice D rationale:

Determining the accepted standards for hand hygiene is an essential first step. It involves researching and understanding the national and international guidelines, protocols, and recommendations related to hand hygiene. Knowing the standards helps the task force establish a benchmark against which the facility's practices can be evaluated. It provides a foundation for data collection and subsequent analysis.

Choice A rationale:

Initiating IV access on the palmar side of the client's wrist is not recommended. This area has many delicate structures and is prone to complications such as nerve damage. Choosing a safer, larger vein proximal to the wrist is a better practice.

Choice B rationale:

Inserting a larger gauge IV catheter is not necessary unless the client's condition or prescribed therapy specifically requires it. Using an unnecessarily large catheter can cause discomfort and increase the risk of complications, such as phlebitis.

Choice C rationale:

Choosing the client's dominant arm for IV access whenever possible is not a universally appropriate guideline. The choice of the arm should depend on the condition of the veins and the individual patient's circumstances. The nurse should assess both arms and choose the one with the most suitable and accessible veins.

Choice D rationale:

Selecting a site proximal to previous venipuncture sites is the correct action. Repeated venipuncture in the same area can cause phlebitis and compromise the integrity of the veins. Selecting a new site proximal to previous punctures helps to preserve vein health and reduce the risk of complications.