A nurse is caring for a client who has an abdominal surgical incision and notes an evisceration. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Explanation & Rationale
Rationale: A. Instruct the client to lie supine with his knees flexed: Flexing the knees reduces tension on the abdominal wall and helps prevent further protrusion of abdominal contents. This position is critical for stabilizing the evisceration while awaiting surgical intervention. B. Cover the wound with a dry sterile dressing: Using a dry dressing can cause the exposed organs to dry out and adhere to the material, increasing the risk of tissue damage. A moist sterile dressing is needed to protect and preserve the protruding tissues. C. Position the client in semi-Fowler's position: Elevating the head of the bed increases intra-abdominal pressure and can worsen evisceration. This position should be avoided to prevent strain on the open surgical site. D. Cover the wound with a transparent dressing: Transparent dressings are not suitable for eviscerations because they do not provide adequate moisture or protection for exposed organs. A sterile saline-moistened dressing is required to maintain tissue integrity.