The nurse needs to send a specimen for a wound culture.What should the nurse do prior to obtaining the specimen?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Before obtaining the specimen for a wound culture, the nurse should flush the wound bed with sterile saline to remove any debris or excess bacteria. This will help ensure that the culture accurately reflects the bacteria present in the wound. While the nurse should also apply clean gloves, it is not necessary to keep the wound open to air for several minutes or cleanse the wound with an antimicrobial solution prior to obtaining the specimen.

The Nurse Needs to Send a Specimen for a Wound