When performing a surgical dressing change of a client's abdominal dressing, the nurse notes an increase in the amount of drainage and separation of the incision line. The underlying tissue is visible to the nurse. The priority nursing action at this time is to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The priority nursing action when there is an increase in drainage and separation of the incision line with visible underlying tissue is to apply a sterile dressing soaked with normal saline. This maintains a moist wound environment, which is essential for wound healing, and protects the wound from further contamination.

When Performing a Surgical Dressing Change of a Client's Abdominal