A nurse is providing care for a patient who is three days postoperative following a cholecystectomy. The nurse suspects an infection due to the yellow and thick drainage from the dressing.
What type of drainage should the nurse report?
Serosanguineous
Serous
Sanguineous
Purulent
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale:
Serosanguineous drainage is a mixture of blood serum and blood. It is typically thin and watery, with a pinkish or reddish hue.
It is common in the early stages of wound healing, as small blood vessels are injured and release their contents. However, it's not consistent with the yellow and thick drainage described in the question, making it an unlikely choice.
Choice B Rationale:
Serous drainage is clear and watery, composed primarily of blood plasma.
It's also common in the early stages of wound healing and is considered a normal part of the process. However, the clear and watery nature of serous drainage doesn't match the thick, yellow drainage described in the question, ruling out this option.
Choice C Rationale:
Sanguineous drainage is composed primarily of fresh blood.
It's often bright red and may be thick or thin, depending on the amount of bleeding. While sanguineous drainage can indicate a problem, it's typically associated with active bleeding or recent trauma. The yellow color of the drainage in the question makes this choice less likely.
Choice D Rationale:
Purulent drainage is a thick, yellow, green, or brown fluid that often has a foul odor.
It's a sign of infection, as it contains dead white blood cells, bacteria, and debris. The yellow and thick consistency of the drainage described in the question strongly suggests purulent drainage, making it the most likely answer.
Key Points:
The color, consistency, and odor of wound drainage can provide valuable clues about the healing process and potential complications.
Purulent drainage is a hallmark of infection and requires prompt attention.
Nurses play a crucial role in assessing wound drainage and reporting any concerns to the healthcare team.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale for Choice A: Obtain vital signs
While obtaining vital signs is important in assessing a patient's overall condition, it is not the first priority in a suspected transfusion reaction.
Vital signs can provide valuable information about the severity of the reaction, but they should not delay the immediate action of stopping the transfusion.
Delaying the cessation of the transfusion could allow for further infusion of incompatible blood or allergens, potentially worsening the reaction and leading to more serious complications.
Rationale for Choice B: Notify the registered nurse
Involving other healthcare professionals is crucial in managing transfusion reactions, but it should not precede stopping the transfusion.
The nurse should prioritize stopping the transfusion to prevent further exposure to potential triggers and then promptly notify the registered nurse for further assessment and interventions.
Timely communication with the registered nurse is essential for coordinating care and ensuring appropriate treatment measures are implemented.
Rationale for Choice C: Administer diphenhydramine
Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine, can be used to treat allergic reactions, but it should not be administered as the first response in this scenario.
The priority is to halt the infusion of the blood product that is potentially causing the reaction.
Administering diphenhydramine before stopping the transfusion could mask the symptoms of the reaction, making it more difficult to assess its severity and progression.
Rationale for Choice D: Stop the transfusion
This is the correct and most immediate action to take when a patient develops itching and hives during a blood transfusion.
These symptoms are indicative of a possible allergic or transfusion reaction, and stopping the transfusion is essential to prevent further complications.
It's critical to act quickly to minimize the amount of incompatible blood or allergens that enter the patient's circulation.
By stopping the transfusion, the nurse can potentially prevent the reaction from worsening and safeguard the patient's well- being.
Correct Answer is ["50"]
Explanation
Here are the steps to calculate the gtt/min for the manual IV infusion:
Step 1: Convert the infusion time from hours to minutes. 8 hours x 60 minutes/hour = 480 minutes
Step 2: Divide the total volume of fluid (in mL) by the infusion time in minutes to get the mL/min rate. 400 mL ÷ 480 minutes = 0.8333 mL/min
Step 3: Multiply the mL/min rate by the drop factor (gtt/mL) to get the gtt/min rate. 0.8333 mL/min x 60 gtt/mL = 50 gtt/min
Therefore, the nurse should set the manual IV infusion to deliver 50 gtt/min.
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