A nurse is preparing for an incoming storm. Which of the following clients should the nurse recommend for discharge planning?

A. The nurse opened the package of gauze toward their body: Opening a sterile package toward the body increases the risk of contaminating the contents. Sterile materials should always be opened away from the nurse to maintain sterility.

B. The nurse kept their hands above the waist during the dressing change: Keeping hands above the waist helps maintain the integrity of the sterile field. Anything below waist level is considered contaminated, so this action demonstrates proper sterile technique.

C. The nurse handled the sterile gauze with clean gloves on: Sterile gloves, not clean gloves, are required to handle sterile materials. Using clean gloves could introduce microorganisms and compromise sterility.

D. The nurse placed a bottle of saline on the sterile field: Only items that are sterile should be placed on the sterile field. Placing a non-sterile bottle of saline directly on the field can cause contamination.

A. Copy of the client's advance directives: Advance directives are part of the client’s legal and medical record but are not included in postmortem documentation. Postmortem charting focuses on care provided after death and body identification rather than prior treatment preferences.

B. Cause of the client's death: Determining and documenting the cause of death is the responsibility of the provider, not the nurse. The nurse may document the time death was pronounced and by whom, but listing the cause exceeds the nursing scope of documentation.

C. Location of the identification tag on the client's body: Proper identification is a critical component of postmortem care to ensure correct body handling and prevent errors. Documenting the placement of identification tags supports legal requirements and continuity of care through the morgue and funeral services.

D. Last set of the client's vital signs: Vital signs are not obtained or documented after death has occurred. Postmortem documentation focuses on confirmation of death, care of the body, and disposition rather than physiological measurements.