A practical nurse (PN) is preparing to collect an aerobic wound culture from a client's stage 3 pressure injury. To ensure accurate laboratory results and reduce the risk of specimen contamination, arrange the following actions in the correct chronological sequence.
- 1Remove the soiled dressing and assess the wound bed.
- 2Cleanse the wound bed with sterile normal saline.
- 3Rotate a sterile swab over an area of healthy granulation tissue.
- 4Place the culture swab securely into the sterile transport tube.
- 5Label the specimen container in the presence of the client.
Answer
The correct chronological sequence is: 1) Remove the soiled dressing, 2) Cleanse the wound bed with sterile normal saline, 3) Rotate a sterile swab over granulation tissue, 4) Place the swab into the sterile transport tube, and 5) Label the specimen container at the bedside.
The correct sequence ensures the culture reflects the true infectious organism rather than surface flora. Removing the dressing allows for assessment. Cleansing the wound prior to swabbing is a critical risk-reduction step to eliminate surface exudate. The swab is then applied to healthy granulation tissue, immediately placed in a transport medium to protect the sample, and labeled at the bedside to prevent identification errors.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Proper specimen collection techniques for aerobic wound cultures to reduce the risk of inaccurate laboratory data.