A patient's abdominal wound has been leaking serosanguineous drainage in increasing amounts for the last 2 days. Today, when the nurse removed the dressing, the incision was open and a loop of bowel was visible. What should the nurse do prior to notifying the surgeon?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The priority action is to cover the exposed bowel with a sterile saline-moistened dressing to prevent further contamination and to maintain a moist environment for the exposed tissue. Option A is not appropriate as the incision site needs to be covered to prevent further contamination. Option B is also not appropriate as coughing may cause further damage to the exposed bowel. Option D may not provide useful information and will not impact the immediate care of the patient. It is important to notify the surgeon immediately after covering the exposed bowel.

A Patient's Abdominal Wound Has Been Leaking Serosanguineous Drainage in Increasing