The nurse assesses an area of drainage on the dressing of a postanesthesia care client's surgical wound. Which of the following should the nurse do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should circle the area and mark it with the date and time to monitor any changes in the drainage. This will help to assess if the drainage is increasing or decreasing and if any further intervention is required. The nurse should also document this assessment in the client's medical record. The nurse does not necessarily need to call the surgeon unless the drainage is excessive or there are signs of infection. Simply covering the dressing or passing it off to the next shift without further action is not appropriate.

The Nurse Assesses an Area of Drainage on the Dressing