Psychosocial Integrity NCLEX Questions Quizlet Related

Review Psychosocial Integrity NCLEX Questions Quizlet related questions and content

When performing sterile wound care in the acute care setting, the nurse obtains a bottle of normal saline from the bedside table that is labeled 'opened' and dated 48 hours prior to the current date. Which is the best action for the nurse to take?

  • A. Discard the saline solution and obtain a new unopened bottle.
  • B. Obtain a new sterile syringe to draw up the labeled saline solution.
  • C. Use the saline solution and then relabel the bottle with the current date.
  • D. Use the normal saline solution once more and then discard.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Solutions labeled as opened within 24 hours may be used for clean procedures, but only newly opened solutions are considered sterile. This solution is not newly opened and is out of date, so it should be discarded. Options B and C are incorrect as they involve using the expired solution. Option A is incorrect as reusing the solution after it has been opened for more than 24 hours poses a risk of contamination. Therefore, the best course of action is to discard the expired solution and obtain a new unopened bottle for sterile wound care.