The nurse is providing medication education for a client with osteoarthritis. What teaching should the nurse include in the education?

Choice A reason: Putting on nonsterile gloves is the first action that the nurse should take before performing a wound culture. This is to protect the nurse from exposure to blood and body fluids and to prevent crosscontamination. Nonsterile gloves are sufficient for wound care as long as the wound is not sterile or infected.

Choice B reason: Gently removing the soiled dressings is the second action that the nurse should take after putting on nonsterile gloves. This is to expose the wound and prepare it for irrigation and culture. The nurse should discard the soiled dressings in a biohazard bag and observe the wound for any signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or odor.

Choice C reason: Irrigating the wound is the third action that the nurse should take after removing the soiled dressings. This is to cleanse the wound and remove any debris or bacteria. The nurse should use sterile normal saline or an antiseptic solution as prescribed by the provider and irrigate the wound with a syringe or a spray bottle. The nurse should avoid touching the wound with the irrigation device and collect the runoff in a basin or a towel.

Choice D reason: Labeling the specimen tube is the last action that the nurse should take after irrigating the wound and obtaining the culture. This is to ensure that the specimen is correctly identified and processed by the laboratory. The nurse should label the tube with the client's name, date, time, and site of the wound. The nurse should also document the procedure and the wound assessment in the client's chart.

Choice A reason: Administering topical hydrocortisone is the appropriate nursing intervention, because it can help reduce the inflammation and itching of the skin lesions that are common in SLE. SLE is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack various organs and tissues, such as the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, and blood vessels. Hydrocortisone is a type of corticosteroid that can suppress the immune response and relieve the symptoms of SLE.

Choice B reason: Applying cold therapy to the extremities is not the appropriate nursing intervention, because it can worsen the circulation and sensation of the fingers and toes that are affected by Raynaud's phenomenon, which is a complication of SLE. Raynaud's phenomenon is a condition that causes the blood vessels in the extremities to narrow and spasm in response to cold or stress, resulting in numbness, pain, and color changes. Cold therapy can trigger or aggravate Raynaud's phenomenon.

Choice C reason: Administering antibiotics is not the appropriate nursing intervention, because it is not indicated for SLE, unless there is a secondary infection. SLE is not caused by bacteria, but by the abnormal activity of the immune system. Antibiotics are drugs that can kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, but they have no effect on the underlying cause of SLE. Antibiotics can also have side effects, such as allergic reactions, gastrointestinal disturbances, or resistance.

Choice D reason: Encouraging ultraviolet (UV) light exposure is not the appropriate nursing intervention, because it can trigger or worsen the skin lesions and the disease activity of SLE. UV light is a type of radiation that can damage the DNA and the cells of the skin, causing inflammation, redness, and blistering. UV light can also stimulate the production of antibodies and cytokines that can attack the organs and tissues of the body.