HESI Fundamentals Practice Exam Related

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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. Use the normal saline solution once more and then discard.
  • 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. Discard the saline solution and obtain a new unopened bottle.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: When performing sterile wound care, it is essential to use only newly opened and unexpired solutions to maintain sterility and prevent infections. The normal saline solution obtained by the nurse is labeled 'opened' and dated 48 hours prior to the current date, making it no longer considered sterile. The best action for the nurse to take in this situation is to discard the saline solution and obtain a new unopened bottle to ensure the safety and effectiveness of wound care. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because reusing an already opened and outdated solution or attempting to relabel it with a current date can compromise patient safety and increase the risk of infection.