Charles calls the Emergency Department and tells the nurse that he had been cleaning a wooded area in the backyard and came directly into contact with poison ivy shrubs. He tells the nurse that he cannot see anything on the skin and asks the nurse what to do. Which of the following is the appropriate nursing response?
A)"Come to the Emergency Department."
B)"Apply calamine lotion immediately to the exposed skin areas."
C)"Take a shower immediately, lathering and rinsing several times."
D)"It is not necessary to do anything if you cannot see anything on your skin."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When an individual comes in contact with a poison ivy plant, the sap from the plant forms an invisible film on the human skin. The client should be instructed to shower immediately and to lather the skin several times and rinse each time in running water. Calamine lotion is a treatment used if dermatitis develops. The client does not need to be seen in the emergency department at this time.

Charles Calls the Emergency Department and Tells the Nurse That