Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients Requiring Orthopedic Treatment Related

Review Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients Requiring Orthopedic Treatment related questions and content

The nurse is caring for a client with an external fixator that requires pin care twice a day. The nurse observes that there is a new purulent drainage around one of the pins. What intervention should the nurse anticipate doing?

  • A. Scrubbing the drainage from around the pin site
  • B. Obtaining a culture
  • C. Applying iodine-based solution
  • D. Apply ointment to the pin site.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: A culture should be obtained if purulent drainage is present. Drainage should be gently removed, not scrubbed. Iodine-based products interfere with tissue healing and are not recommended for cleaning pin sites. Ointment should not be applied to the pin site unless specifically ordered.