Question

How will the nurse minimize the risk for infection when changing a patient's IV catheter site dressing?

A. Use aseptic technique throughout the process.
B. Pull the tape toward the insertion site.
C. Remove both the gauze dressing and the tape one layer at a time.
D. Explain the process to the patient.

Answer 1

To minimize the risk for infection when changing a patient's IV catheter site dressing, a nurse must use aseptic technique, involving sterilized materials, strict hand hygiene, and careful dressing removal without contaminating the insertion site.

Step-by-step explanation:

To minimize the risk for infection when changing a patient's IV catheter site dressing, a nurse must use aseptic technique throughout the process. Aseptic technique is crucial to maintain sterility and involves a set of procedures that together prevent contamination of the patient with microbes and infectious agents. This includes the use of sterilized materials and strict hand hygiene practices. Each step, from the removal of the old dressing to the application of a new sterile dressing, must be performed carefully to ensure that no infection is introduced into the IV site.

It is important that the nurse does not pull the tape toward the insertion site to avoid contaminating the catheter. Instead, the dressing and tape should be removed carefully, avoiding contact with the catheter insertion point. As part of aseptic technique, each layer of the gauze dressing and tape may be removed one at a time to prevent potential contamination. While explaining the procedure to the patient is important for patient care and comfort, it does not in itself minimize the risk for infection.