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.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A:
While marijuana use can have various health effects, it is not typically associated with a reduction in functional hemoglobin.
Choice B:
A diet high in fats can lead to various health problems, such as heart disease and obesity, but it is not directly linked to a reduction in functional hemoglobin.
Choice C:
Smoking cigarettes can indeed lead to a reduction in functional hemoglobin. Smokers have higher blood hemoglobin concentrations than non-smokers. This is because smoking causes the body to increase red blood cell production to compensate for lower oxygen supply.
Choice D:
While excessive alcohol consumption can have numerous negative health effects, it is not typically associated with a reduction in functional hemoglobin.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Keeping a superficial wound moist can promote faster healing. A moist environment helps to protect the new tissue, prevent the wound from drying out and forming a scab, which can slow down the healing process. It also allows cells to move across the wound more easily, which can speed up healing.
Choice B rationale
While it was once common practice to keep wounds dry, research has shown that a dry environment can actually slow down the healing process by causing cells to dehydrate and scabs to form, which can impede the growth of new tissue.
Choice C rationale
A wet-to-dry dressing is typically used for mechanical debridement and not for the purpose of speeding up healing. This type of dressing can be useful for removing dead tissue but is not necessarily conducive to the fastest healing of superficial wounds.
Choice D rationale
Debridement is the removal of dead or infected tissue from a wound to help healing. While it is an important part of wound care, the act of debridement itself does not speed up healing; rather, it sets the stage for it by cleaning the wound.
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