A nurse is performing a dressing change for a child and notices that the gauze dressing is adhering to the wound bed. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Effective wound care for pediatric patients requires a deep understanding of tissue integrity and pain management strategies. When dressings adhere to the wound bed, nurses must apply principles of mechanical friction reduction and moisture to prevent traumatizing newly formed granulation tissue during removal. Choice A rationale Removing dry gauze parallel to the skin is a technique primarily used for adhesive tapes to minimize epidermal stripping. However, it does not prevent the mechanical debridement of healing tissue when the gauze is stuck to the wound surface. Choice C rationale Hydrogen peroxide is often contraindicated for routine wound irrigation as it is cytotoxic to fibroblasts. Using it on a healing wound bed can delay re-epithelialization and cause chemical irritation, even when diluted to half-strength for dressing removal. Choice D rationale Applying firm pressure during the removal process increases the risk of damaging the underlying vascularized tissue. Pressure is typically reserved for hemorrhage control rather than dressing changes, where the goal is to maintain a gentle, non-traumatic environment.