A nurse is preparing to remove staples from a client's incision. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Lift the staple remover when squeezing the handle.
Avoid completely closing the handle after squeezing.
Expect the staples to bend at each outer side of the staple.
Remove the staple from the skin after both sides are visible.
The Correct Answer is D
The correct answer is: d. Remove the staple from the skin after both sides are visible.
Explanation: This statement is correct because the staple should be removed only when both sides are visible, ensuring that it has been fully lifted away from the skin. This helps minimize tissue damage and pain while preventing infection.
Choice A Rationale: Lifting the staple remover when squeezing the handle could potentially disrupt the proper angle required for effective staple removal. Staples are designed to be removed in a specific manner to minimize tissue trauma and discomfort to the patient. If the staple remover is lifted while squeezing the handle, it may cause uneven pressure on the staple legs, leading to improper removal. This could result in tissue damage, increased pain for the patient, and potentially leave parts of the staple embedded in the skin, increasing the risk of infection or delayed healing.
Choice B Rationale: Avoiding completely closing the handle after squeezing may not provide sufficient force to properly remove the staple from the skin. Staples are designed to be squeezed closed completely to ensure that they are securely grasped and removed from the incision site. Failing to fully close the handle after squeezing may result in inadequate removal of the staple, leaving parts of it behind in the skin. This can increase the risk of infection, tissue irritation, and delayed wound healing. Additionally, incomplete closure of the handle may lead to discomfort for the patient as the staple removal process may be prolonged or require additional attempts.
Choice C Rationale: Expecting the staples to bend at each outer side during removal is incorrect. Staples are designed to bend in the middle when properly removed from the skin. If the outer sides of the staple were expected to bend, it may indicate improper technique or the use of a faulty staple remover. Staples are intended to be removed smoothly without excessive bending or twisting to minimize trauma to the surrounding tissue and reduce the risk of complications such as infection or delayed wound healing. Anticipating bending at the outer sides could lead to unnecessary manipulation of the staple and increase the likelihood of tissue damage or incomplete removal.
Choice D (Correct Answer) Rationale: Removing the staple from the skin only after both sides are visible is the appropriate technique to ensure proper removal without causing unnecessary trauma or discomfort to the patient. When both sides of the staple are visible, it indicates that the staple has been adequately lifted away from the skin, reducing the risk of tissue damage or incomplete removal. This technique allows for a smooth and controlled extraction of the staple, minimizing pain and promoting optimal wound healing. By waiting until both sides are visible, the nurse can confirm that the staple has been fully disengaged from the tissue, reducing the likelihood of complications such as infection or skin irritation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A.
Choice A rationale:
Count the client's radial and apical pulses simultaneously with another nurse. Rationale: In the presence of an irregular heart rate, a pulse deficit might indicate a discrepancy between the peripheral (radial) and central (apical) pulses. Counting the pulses simultaneously with another nurse helps to accurately assess this deficit. By comparing the two pulse rates, the nurse can identify if there is a difference, which might indicate inadequate circulation or irregular heartbeats that aren't effectively transmitting to the peripheral arteries.
Choice B rationale:
Calculate the client's pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by 2. Rationale: While calculating the pulse rate for 30 seconds and then multiplying by 2 is a valid method to determine the heart rate, it doesn't address the specific concern of a pulse deficit. This approach might help in assessing the overall heart rate but doesn't provide information about potential irregularities or discrepancies between peripheral and central pulses.
Choice C rationale:
Assist the client to a side-lying position. Rationale: Assisting the client to a side-lying position doesn't directly relate to the assessment of a pulse deficit. The position of the client wouldn't significantly impact the assessment of irregular heart rates or pulse deficits.
Choice D rationale:
Auscultate the area of the client's chest over the Erb's point. Rationale: Auscultating the area of the client's chest over the Erb's point is a technique used to assess heart sounds, particularly the S2 heart sound. This technique is not relevant to assessing a pulse deficit. It can provide information about heart valve function but doesn't help in evaluating a discrepancy between peripheral and central pulses.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The correct answer is choice D. The client has tenderness and warmth in their calf.
Choice A rationale:
The client's self-reported incisional pain level of 7 on a scale of 0 to 10 is important information to assess postoperative recovery, but it is not the priority finding to report among the choices. Pain management is crucial, but potential complications that could be more urgent should be addressed first.
Choice B rationale:
Increased nausea and chills are concerning postoperative findings, but they could be related to the body's response to surgery, anesthesia, or pain medications. While these symptoms should be monitored and managed, they are not as high-priority as potential complications involving the calf.
Choice C rationale:
An oral temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F) indicates a fever and is also a concerning finding in the postoperative period. Infection could be a possible cause, and the provider should be informed. However, compared to tenderness and warmth in the calf, which could suggest deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the fever is of slightly lower priority.
Choice D rationale:
Tenderness and warmth in the calf are the priority findings to report. These symptoms raise concern about the possibility of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a serious complication after surgery. DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, commonly in the legs. If left untreated, it can lead to a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening condition where the clot travels to the lungs. Immediate assessment and intervention are necessary to rule out or address this potentially critical complication.
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