Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and Science of Person-Centered Care Tenth, North American Edition - Skin Integrity and Wound Care Related

Review Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and Science of Person-Centered Care Tenth, North American Edition - Skin Integrity and Wound Care related questions and content

A nurse on a surgical unit has assessed and documented a patient's wound and drainage. Which statements most accurately describe the characteristic of the wound drainage?

  • A. Sanguineous drainage is composed of the clear portion of the blood and serous membranes.
  • B. Sanguineous drainage is composed of a large number of red blood cells and looks like blood.
  • C. Sanguineous drainage is composed of white blood cells, dead tissue, and bacteria.
  • D. Sanguineous drainage is thin, cloudy, and watery and may have a musty or foul odor.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Sanguineous drainage consists of large numbers of red blood cells and looks like blood. Bright-red sanguineous drainage is indicative of fresh bleeding, whereas darker drainage indicates older bleeding. Serous drainage, generally watery, is composed primarily of the clear, serous portion of the blood and serous membranes. Purulent drainage is made up of white blood cells, liquefied dead tissue debris, and both dead and live bacteria. It is thick, often has a musty or foul odor, and varies in color (such as dark yellow or green), depending on the causative organism.