A nurse is applying povidone-iodine to a patient's back in preparation for a puncture procedure to obtain a cerebrospinal fluid specimen.The nurse should apply this solution to the area between which of the following vertebrae?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The lumbar puncture is performed between the lumbar vertebrae. The L3-L4 inter-vertebral space is commonly used as it is below the level of the spinal cord termination, reducing the risk of spinal cord trauma. Povidone-iodine should be applied to the area to reduce the risk of infection during the procedure.

A Nurse Is Applying Povidone-Iodine to a Patient's Back in Preparation