The patient is undergoing Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) treatment for wound healing. Which would be your first priority in caring for this patient?
Assess the patient for any complaints or problems in the wound area.
Check the settings on the NPWT unit.
Document your findings.
Observe the dressing area.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
The nurse’s first priority should always be to assess the patient’s condition. In the context of NPWT, this means checking for any complaints or problems in the wound area. This assessment helps to ensure that the NPWT is not causing additional issues and that the wound is healing as expected.
Choice B rationale
While it is important to check the settings on the NPWT unit to ensure it is functioning correctly, this is not the first priority. The patient’s well-being and response to treatment take precedence over equipment checks.
Choice C rationale
Documentation is a critical part of patient care, but it comes after patient assessment and any necessary interventions. It serves to record the patient’s status and the care provided but is not the immediate priority.
Choice D rationale
Observing the dressing area is part of the overall assessment of the patient and the effectiveness of the NPWT. However, it is not the first action to take. The nurse must first assess the patient for any discomfort or complications before focusing on the dressing itself.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
When administering a hot soak treatment, it is crucial to soak only the affected area to provide targeted heat therapy. This localized approach helps to increase blood flow, reduce pain, and promote healing in the specific area that requires treatment. Soaking only the affected area also minimizes the risk of overheating and potential burns to other parts of the body.
Choice B rationale
While positioning the patient comfortably is important for any treatment, it is not the most critical aspect of a hot soak treatment. Comfort should always be considered, but the primary goal of the hot soak is to apply heat to the affected area to aid in healing. Therefore, ensuring that only the affected area is soaked takes precedence over general patient comfort in this context.
Choice C rationale
Monitoring the temperature of the water is the most important aspect of a hot soak treatment. The water must be warm enough to be therapeutic but not so hot as to cause burns or discomfort. This ensures the treatment is both safe and effective1.
Choice D rationale
Checking the patient’s skin integrity is important, especially if the patient has a condition that affects skin sensitivity, such as diabetes. However, the immediate concern during a hot soak treatment is to monitor the temperature to prevent injury.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
A contusion, commonly known as a bruise, is characterized by skin discoloration due to trauma that causes bleeding under the skin. It does not result in a raised scar, which is why it is not the correct term to describe the patient's condition.
Choice B rationale
A keloid is an overgrowth of scar tissue that forms at the site of a healed skin injury. Keloids are more common in people with darker skin tones, such as African Americans, and are characterized by a raised, firm, and sometimes itchy or painful scar that extends beyond the original wound boundaries. This description matches the nurse's assessment of the patient's scar.
Choice C rationale
A laceration refers to a deep cut or tear in the skin or flesh. Because the nurse is assessing a scar, not a fresh wound, laceration is not the appropriate term for documentation.
Choice D rationale
A hematoma is a localized collection of blood outside the blood vessels, usually in liquid form within the tissue. This term would not be used to describe a raised scar, making it an incorrect choice for documentation.
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