A nurse is performing wound care for a client who has an abdominal incision. Which of the following techniques should the nurse implement?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Cleanse the insertion site of the drain using a circular motion toward the center: Proper technique involves cleaning from the least contaminated area (the center) outward to the surrounding skin, not toward the center, to prevent introducing pathogens into the wound. B. Irrigate the wound with a low-pressure flow of solution: Low-pressure irrigation helps remove debris and exudate without damaging tissue or disrupting healing. It is a safe and effective method for cleansing an abdominal incision. C. Irrigate the wound using a 10-mL syringe: Using a small syringe can create high-pressure flow, which may traumatize tissue. Larger volume syringes (e.g., 30–60 mL) with controlled, low-pressure flow are recommended for wound irrigation. D. Cleanse the wound starting at the bottom and moving upward: Wound cleaning should proceed from the least contaminated area (top or center of the incision) toward more contaminated areas (periphery) to reduce the risk of introducing bacteria into the wound.