A nurse on the Medical-Surgical unit is assessing a patient's wound dressing, and observes a watery light red-pink drainage. The nurse should document this drainage as which of the following?

Choice A rationale:

The nurse is demonstrating the phase of nursing care known as "Implementation." During this phase, the nurse carries out the interventions and actions that were planned in the previous stages of the nursing process. In this scenario, applying warm compresses to the client's joint is a planned intervention that is being executed by the nurse.

Choice B rationale:

Planning is not the correct choice for this scenario. Planning is the phase of nursing care where the nurse sets goals, outcomes, and develops a plan of action based on the assessment data. It occurs before the implementation phase.

Choice C rationale:

Evaluation is not the correct choice for this scenario. Evaluation is the phase where the nurse assesses the outcomes of the interventions and determines whether the goals have been met. It comes after the implementation phase.

Choice D rationale:

Assessment is not the correct choice for this scenario. Assessment is the initial phase of the nursing process where the nurse collects data about the client's health status. It precedes the planning, implementation, and evaluation phases.

Choice A rationale:

Washing hands for 5 to 10 seconds prior to administering medication is indeed an important safety measure, but it is not specifically related to changing or applying a transdermal patch. Hand hygiene is crucial to prevent the spread of infection, but it doesn't directly address the process of applying a patch.

Choice B rationale:

Applying the patch over a non-hairy area within the patient's skin is the correct answer. This is crucial because hair can interfere with the adhesion of the patch, leading to inadequate drug absorption. The rationale behind this is to ensure that the medication is effectively delivered through the skin into the bloodstream without any barriers such as hair. It's also important to choose a site that is clean, dry, and free from cuts or irritation.

Choice C rationale:

Leaving the previous medication patch in place is not recommended. It's essential to remove the old patch before applying a new one to prevent accumulation of the medication and to ensure accurate dosing. Failing to remove the previous patch could lead to an overdose or altered drug effects.

Choice D rationale:

Ensuring that the patient is lying down is not a specific safety measure for changing or applying a transdermal patch. The patient's position doesn't directly impact the effectiveness of the patch or the safety of the application process.