A nurse is reviewing admission prescriptions for a group of clients. Which of the following prescriptions should the nurse identify as complete?

A. Open the outermost flap of the sterile kit toward the body. The outermost flap should always be opened away from the body first to prevent contamination of the sterile field by leaning over it. This helps maintain sterility by minimizing the risk of contact.
B. Place the cap from the solution sterile side up on a clean surface. Placing the cap sterile side up prevents the sterile inner surface from touching the contaminated surface and helps maintain aseptic technique during solution use.
C. Place the sterile dressing within 1.25 cm (0.5 in) of the edge of the sterile field. The outer 2.5 cm (1 inch) border of a sterile field is considered contaminated. Placing items too close to the edge increases the risk of contamination and compromises the field's sterility.
D. Set up the sterile field 5 cm (2 in) below waist level. Any sterile item held or placed below waist level is considered contaminated. The sterile field must always be maintained above waist level to preserve asepsis.

• Endometritis – This uterine infection is one of the most common postpartum complications, especially following cesarean delivery and prolonged rupture of membranes. It often presents with foul-smelling lochia, uterine tenderness, and systemic signs of infection like fever and leukocytosis. This client’s presentation, including foul-smelling lochia and a WBC of 33,000/mm³, strongly supports this diagnosis.
• Mastitis – Typically associated with localized breast pain, redness, swelling, and systemic symptoms like fever. While the client has nipple discomfort and firm breasts, these are common postpartum findings during milk let-down and do not meet the criteria for mastitis, especially without signs of inflammation or localized breast infection.
• Pulmonary embolism – A PE generally presents with sudden-onset chest pain, dyspnea, tachypnea, and hypoxia. This client’s oxygen saturation is normal, lung sounds are clear, and there is no respiratory distress, making PE unlikely.
• Postpartum hemorrhage – Hemorrhage would present with excessive vaginal bleeding, hypotension, tachycardia, and possibly uterine atony. This client’s uterus is firm, lochia is moderate (not heavy), and vital signs are stable, so hemorrhage is not supported by the data.
• Lochia assessment – Foul-smelling lochia is a classic indicator of uterine infection. It points to endometritis when found with other risk factors like cesarean birth, prolonged labor, and signs of systemic inflammation.
• Elevated white blood cell count – A postpartum WBC count may be mildly elevated, but a level of 33,000/mm³ suggests infection. When combined with clinical symptoms like uterine tenderness and malodorous discharge, it supports a diagnosis of endometritis.
• Firm uterus at 1 cm above umbilicus – This finding is expected on postpartum day 3 and indicates normal uterine involution. A firm uterus rules out uterine atony and is not specific to infection or hemorrhage.
• Moderate nipple discomfort – Breast fullness and nipple tenderness are common in breastfeeding mothers, especially in the early postpartum period. This discomfort alone does not indicate mastitis or any systemic infection.