A Medical-Surgical nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has a stage 3 pressure ulcer. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?

The correct answer is choice A. Transparent dressing.

Choice A rationale:

Transparent dressings are appropriate for stage I pressure ulcers. These dressings provide a moist environment that promotes healing and protects the wound from external contaminants. They are also transparent, allowing the nurse to monitor the wound without removing the dressing. As stage I pressure ulcers involve intact skin with non-blanchable redness, these dressings aid in preventing friction and shear forces that could exacerbate the injury.

Choice B rationale:

Alginate dressings (Choice B) are not suitable for stage I pressure ulcers. Alginate dressings are highly absorbent and are generally used for wounds with moderate to heavy exudate, such as infected wounds or those with necrotic tissue. They may not be the best choice for a stage I pressure ulcer, which is characterized by superficial skin involvement without exudate or necrosis.

Choice C rationale:

Hydrogel dressings (Choice C) are beneficial for wounds with minimal to no exudate, but they are more appropriate for partial-thickness wounds, burns, or dry wounds. They provide a moist environment and promote autolytic debridement. However, in the case of a stage I pressure ulcer, where the skin is intact and there is no exudate, hydrogel dressings may not be the ideal choice.

Choice D rationale:

Wet-to-dry gauze dressings (Choice D) involve placing moist saline gauze onto a wound bed and allowing it to dry before removal. This method is used for mechanical debridement of wounds with necrotic tissue, and it's not suitable for a stage I pressure ulcer. In fact, using wet-to-dry dressings on a superficial wound could cause trauma and hinder healing.

Choice A rationale:

The choice "Rectus Femoris" is not the correct answer. The rectus femoris is a muscle located in the thigh and is not a common site for intramuscular injections due to its location and proximity to important structures.

Choice B rationale:

The correct answer is "Vastus Lateralis." Choice B is the correct answer. The vastus lateralis muscle is located on the lateral aspect of the thigh and is a suitable site for intramuscular injections. It is often used in infants and young children or in adults who have limited deltoid muscle mass.

Choice C rationale:

The correct answer is "Dorsogluteal." Choice C is the correct answer. The dorsogluteal muscle, located in the buttocks, has historically been used for intramuscular injections. However, it's important to note that due to the proximity of the sciatic nerve and the potential for incorrect injection technique, this site is used less frequently now.

Choice D rationale:

The choice "Lower abdomen" is not the correct answer. The lower abdomen is not a recommended site for intramuscular injections due to the risk of injuring underlying structures and the potential for subcutaneous injection instead of intramuscular.

Choice E rationale:

The correct answer is "Deltoid." Choice E is the correct answer. The deltoid muscle, located in the upper arm, is commonly used for intramuscular injections, especially for vaccines and smaller medication volumes. However, it has a limited muscle mass and may not be suitable for larger injection volumes.