A nurse in the newborn nursery is providing care for four newborns. For which of the following events should the nurse plan to complete an incident report?

A) Establishing the priorities of client care:

Establishing priorities of client care typically occurs during the planning phase of the nursing process, not during implementation. During the planning phase, the nurse identifies the most urgent client needs based on assessments and formulates a plan of action to address those needs.

B) Reinforcing teaching about the client's diagnosis:

Reinforcing teaching about the client's diagnosis is an appropriate activity during the implementation phase of the nursing process. Implementation involves carrying out the planned interventions, which may include educating the client about their diagnosis, treatment plan, and self-care strategies. Reinforcing teaching ensures that the client understands their condition and how to manage it effectively.

C) Asking the client about the presence of pain:

Assessing the client for pain is typically part of the assessment phase of the nursing process, not the implementation phase. During assessment, the nurse gathers data about the client's pain experience, including location, intensity, quality, and factors that alleviate or exacerbate pain.

D) Comparing the client's current laboratory values to previous results:

Comparing laboratory values is a component of data interpretation and analysis, which occurs primarily during the evaluation phase of the nursing process. While the nurse may review laboratory values during implementation to monitor the client's response to interventions, comparing current values to previous results is more closely associated with evaluating the effectiveness of care provided.

A) Select the appropriate dressing:

Choosing the appropriate dressing is an essential step in the process of changing a wound dressing. However, before selecting a dressing, the nurse should first review the available dressing types to ensure that the choice is based on a comprehensive understanding of the client's wound characteristics, such as size, depth, exudate level, and presence of infection. Jumping straight to selecting a dressing without reviewing available options may result in choosing an inadequate or inappropriate dressing for the client's specific wound care needs.

B) Review available dressing types:

This is the most appropriate initial step in the process of changing a wound dressing. Before proceeding with the dressing change, the nurse should assess the client's wound and review the available dressing types to determine which one is most suitable. Factors to consider include the wound's characteristics, such as size, depth, and exudate level, as well as any specific requirements based on the stage of the pressure ulcer and the client's overall condition. Reviewing available dressing types ensures that the nurse makes an informed decision and selects the most appropriate dressing for promoting wound healing and preventing complications.

C) Document the dressing change:

Documentation is an essential aspect of wound care, as it provides a record of the client's progress, the interventions performed, and the client's response to treatment. While documenting the dressing change is important, it should occur after the dressing change itself. Documenting before completing the dressing change could lead to incomplete or inaccurate documentation, as the nurse may need to record details about the wound's appearance, the type of dressing used, and any observations made during the procedure.

D) Change the dressing:

Changing the dressing is a necessary step in the wound care process, but it should not be the first action taken without assessing the wound and reviewing available dressing options. Proceeding directly to changing the dressing without considering the client's specific wound care needs and available dressing types may result in suboptimal wound management and compromise the client's healing process.