Question

A newly admitted nursing home patient is arriving with several deep (3rd degree) decubiti on the back and buttocks. There is a foul-smelling drainage coming from the wounds. The health care provider suspects MRSA.

a.            What type of precautions should the nurse implement for everyone entering this patient’s room?Explain

b.            How will the nurse proceed with the physical assessment while maintaining a safe environment for herself and the patient?Explain

Answer 1

Ans) a. To prevent MRSA infections, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers: Clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after caring for every patient. Use Contact Precautions when caring for patients with MRSA.

- PPE, such as gloves and a gown, act as a barrier between the individual and infectious agents such as MRSA. Gloves are to be worn when caring for a patient with an MRSA infection. A gown may also be required depending on the activities to be completed.

b. Follow strictly Contact precautions.

- Wear in PPE.

- Practice good hygiene:

• Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
• Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.

- While performing physical assessment, note down the wound position.

- Inform the findings to infection control sister.

- Fill in CQI.