Quick question

[Driana]

:stone Quick question:

if a pt had a below the knee amputation and a nurse assesses his dressing 10 hours later finding that the dressing is saturated with bright red blood, what should the nurse do first?

1.) change the dressing 2.) apply direct pressure to the incision 3.) Check his vital signs

?????????????????

What would you guys answer?! I need help in rationalizing this question. Please.

[JentheRN05, RN]

3 1 then 2.

Three first becuz you always assess first. applying pressure and dsg change are actions

[Driana]

:yelclap: damn... i think you're right. well, there goes another question i got wrong on the NCLEX. Oh well. Thank you for the response, though!

[suzanne4, RN]

Dressing change would not be up there on the list because at many facilities it requires an order from the physician for the first dressing change.

It would be vital signs, then apply pressure to the wound, which does not necessarily involve removing the first dressing.

Think of what you would do for a hip replacement patient with the same issue. The dressing gets reinforced, then the surgeon contacted, it does not get changed.