NURS 1112Week 3 Write-up
Week 3 Write - Up
Infection Prevention and Control
Jane Martin, a 75-year-old widow, is admitted to the hospital for treatment of a
postoperative infection of her left knee. She had total knee replacement surgery 3
weeks ago and went to her orthopedic surgeon with a complaint of pain, redness, and
swelling in the operative joint. The incision is draining a purulent drainage. Her vital
signs are blood pressure, 130/80 mm Hg; temperature, 101° F orally; pulse, 108
beats/min; and respirations, 18 breaths/min. She rates the pain in her left knee as a 6 on
a scale from 1 to 10. Mrs. Martin has type 2 diabetes and has controlled her disease
with oral antihyperglycemic agents. She has not had much of an appetite since her
surgery and has lost 4 lb. Mary, a senior student nurse, is assigned to begin admitting
Mrs. Martin.
Include your Answers and Rationales
1. Mary knows that the most important way to prevent infection is how?
By keeping the site of the surgery clean and also by taking any antibiotics the doctor
may have prescribed to avoid infection. But most importantly good wound care is
essential.
2. The surgeon has ordered that Mrs. Martin be placed in isolation. Which type
of isolation is most appropriate, and what precautions are included in this type of
isolation?
Contact precautions (direct patient or environmental contact) were probably
ordered by the physician because Mrs. Martin infection seems to be serious and she is
not doing so well. Therefore the physician wants to protect Mrs. Martin from any
further infections.
3. Mrs. Martin asks Mary why some of the staff members wash their hands at
the sink and others just wipe their hands with the stuff in the container. How
should Mary respond so that Mrs. Martin knows when it is appropriate to not
wash hands with soap and water?
Mary should tell her that it depends on what they were doing, for example if they
get their gloved or ungloved hands soiled they wash their hands, but if they do not
get their hands soiled hand sanitizer suffices.
4. Mrs. Martin’s physician has decided to put in a peripherally inserted central
catheter (PICC) line so she can receive intravenous antibiotics for 3 weeks. What
type of preparation should Mary anticipate for this invasive procedure?
Mary can speak with Mrs. Martin and explain to her what procedure she will be
getting done and for what. Also explain to her the antibiotic she will be on for
three weeks and/or about any other medication such as blood thinners she
This study source was downloaded by 100000848398116 from CourseHero.com on 06-30-2022 03:46:05 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/32123117/Week-3-Write-updocx/
, NURS 1112Week 3 Write-up
may have to take for the procedure to avoid any blood clots.
This study source was downloaded by 100000848398116 from CourseHero.com on 06-30-2022 03:46:05 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/32123117/Week-3-Write-updocx/
Week 3 Write - Up
Infection Prevention and Control
Jane Martin, a 75-year-old widow, is admitted to the hospital for treatment of a
postoperative infection of her left knee. She had total knee replacement surgery 3
weeks ago and went to her orthopedic surgeon with a complaint of pain, redness, and
swelling in the operative joint. The incision is draining a purulent drainage. Her vital
signs are blood pressure, 130/80 mm Hg; temperature, 101° F orally; pulse, 108
beats/min; and respirations, 18 breaths/min. She rates the pain in her left knee as a 6 on
a scale from 1 to 10. Mrs. Martin has type 2 diabetes and has controlled her disease
with oral antihyperglycemic agents. She has not had much of an appetite since her
surgery and has lost 4 lb. Mary, a senior student nurse, is assigned to begin admitting
Mrs. Martin.
Include your Answers and Rationales
1. Mary knows that the most important way to prevent infection is how?
By keeping the site of the surgery clean and also by taking any antibiotics the doctor
may have prescribed to avoid infection. But most importantly good wound care is
essential.
2. The surgeon has ordered that Mrs. Martin be placed in isolation. Which type
of isolation is most appropriate, and what precautions are included in this type of
isolation?
Contact precautions (direct patient or environmental contact) were probably
ordered by the physician because Mrs. Martin infection seems to be serious and she is
not doing so well. Therefore the physician wants to protect Mrs. Martin from any
further infections.
3. Mrs. Martin asks Mary why some of the staff members wash their hands at
the sink and others just wipe their hands with the stuff in the container. How
should Mary respond so that Mrs. Martin knows when it is appropriate to not
wash hands with soap and water?
Mary should tell her that it depends on what they were doing, for example if they
get their gloved or ungloved hands soiled they wash their hands, but if they do not
get their hands soiled hand sanitizer suffices.
4. Mrs. Martin’s physician has decided to put in a peripherally inserted central
catheter (PICC) line so she can receive intravenous antibiotics for 3 weeks. What
type of preparation should Mary anticipate for this invasive procedure?
Mary can speak with Mrs. Martin and explain to her what procedure she will be
getting done and for what. Also explain to her the antibiotic she will be on for
three weeks and/or about any other medication such as blood thinners she
This study source was downloaded by 100000848398116 from CourseHero.com on 06-30-2022 03:46:05 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/32123117/Week-3-Write-updocx/
, NURS 1112Week 3 Write-up
may have to take for the procedure to avoid any blood clots.
This study source was downloaded by 100000848398116 from CourseHero.com on 06-30-2022 03:46:05 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/32123117/Week-3-Write-updocx/
