A nurse is caring for a patient who requires droplet precautions.
What personal protective equipment should the nurse wear when preparing the patient’s meal tray?

Choice A rationale

Swabbing an area of skin away from the wound to identify the usual flora is not the correct action. This would not provide a representative sample of the wound infection.

Choice B rationale

Irrigating the wound with an antiseptic prior to obtaining the specimen is not the correct action. This could potentially alter the results of the culture.

Choice C rationale

Cleansing the wound with 0.9% sodium chloride saline irrigation before obtaining the specimen is the correct action. This helps to remove surface bacteria and ensures a more accurate culture result.

Choice D rationale

Including intact skin at the wound edges in the culture is not the correct action. This could contaminate the specimen with bacteria that are not part of the wound infection.

Choice A rationale

After a total laryngectomy, patients may have difficulty swallowing fluids due to changes in the anatomy of the throat.

Choice B rationale

It is not accurate to say that it is no longer possible for the patient to choke on or aspirate food after a total laryngectomy. While the risk of aspiration is reduced because the airway and digestive tract are separated, the patient can still experience choking on food if it is not properly swallowed.

Choice C rationale

Adding a thickener to liquids can help prevent aspiration, but this is typically more relevant for patients with dysphagia or other swallowing disorders, not specifically for patients post- laryngectomy.

Choice D rationale

Tucking the chin when swallowing, also known as the chin-tuck maneuver, can help prevent aspiration by narrowing the entrance to the airway. This can be a useful technique for patients after a laryngectomy.