The nurse is caring for a patient with extensive burns.Which intervention should be included in the nursing management plan to prevent cross-contamination and decrease the risk of infection in the burn-injured patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cross-contamination by direct contact is a significant source of infection and a subsequent cause of sepsis.Effective handwashing technique cannot be overemphasized.Nurses must wash their hands and change gloves when moving from area to area on the same patient.For example,after changing the chest dressing,which may be contaminated with sputum from the tracheostomy,hands must be washed and gloves changed before the nurse moves to the legs.Gowns,gloves,and masks should be worn whenever contact with body fluids occurs.These garments also must be changed and hands washed before caring for a different patient.Maintaining patient-specific dressings and topical agents is recommended.Equipment such as thermometers,intravenous pumps,and stethoscopes should be designated for each patient or,when shared,should be cleaned with appropriate bactericidal cleansers between patients.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with Extensive Burns