A nurse is performing wound care for a client who has an abdominal incision. Which of the following techniques should the nurse implement?

Choice A reason: Discussing preferences for repositioning schedules is secondary to assessing physical ability in stroke clients, who may have hemiplegia. Evaluating ability ensures safety. Assuming preferences are priority risks unsafe repositioning, potentially causing falls, critical to avoid in ensuring safe mobility and care for stroke patients.

Choice B reason: Evaluating the client’s ability to assist with repositioning is critical post-stroke to assess motor function, ensuring safe technique and preventing injury. This informs whether assistive devices or additional staff are needed, essential for reducing fall risk, promoting recovery, and tailoring care to the client’s physical capacity.

Choice C reason: Repositioning without assistive devices is unsafe for stroke clients with potential weakness or paralysis, risking falls or strain. Evaluating ability is priority. Assuming no devices are needed risks injury, critical to prevent in ensuring safe handling, supporting recovery, and maintaining safety in stroke rehabilitation care.

Choice D reason: Raising side rails ensures safety but is secondary to evaluating the client’s ability to assist, which guides repositioning technique. Assuming rails are the first step risks overlooking physical capacity, potentially leading to unsafe repositioning, critical to avoid in preventing falls and ensuring safe care for stroke clients.

Choice A reason: Wearing gloves prevents nicotine absorption through the nurse’s skin during patch application, ensuring safety and preventing side effects like dizziness. This adheres to standard precautions, critical for occupational health, maintaining hygiene, and ensuring effective nicotine therapy for clients in smoking cessation programs.

Choice B reason: Removing the previous patch is correct but placing it in tissue is inadequate; it should be folded and disposed in a sharps container. Assuming tissue disposal is sufficient risks improper handling, potentially exposing others to nicotine, critical to avoid in safe patch management.

Choice C reason: Applying the patch within 1 hour of pouch removal is unnecessary; patches remain stable longer. Wearing gloves is priority. Assuming time restriction risks rushed application, potentially compromising technique, critical to prevent in ensuring safe and effective nicotine patch therapy for smoking cessation.

Choice D reason: Shaving hairy areas risks skin irritation; trimming is preferred before patch application. Wearing gloves is essential. Assuming shaving is correct risks skin damage, reducing patch adhesion, critical to avoid in ensuring proper application and effective nicotine delivery in smoking cessation therapy.