Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) A Practice Exam

For a client with an abdominal wound that has large purulent drainage, implementing contact precautions is essential to prevent the spread of infectious organisms. Contact precautions are specifically designed to protect healthcare workers and other patients from pathogens that can be transmitted through direct contact with the infected wound or contaminated surfaces. In this scenario, the purulent drainage is a clear indicator that the wound may be infected, which means organisms could be present that are capable of transmission through touch. Contact precautions require the use of gloves and gowns when entering the patient's room and when handling anything that may come into contact with the wound or drainage. In addition, proper hand hygiene before and after patient contact is crucial to further minimize the risk of disease transmission. These precautions are critical, especially in an environment where vulnerable patients may be present, as they could easily acquire infections from contaminated surfaces or staff. Other types of precautions—such as airborne or droplet—are not appropriate in this case because those are related to specific pathogens that are airborne (like tuberculosis) or spread through respiratory droplets (like influenza), neither of which pertain to an infected wound directly. Standard precautions alone would not be sufficient due to the specific risk presented by the wound and its drainage. Thus, contact precautions are the most appropriate choice for