The nurse in the ED is caring for a man who has returned to the ED 4 days after receiving stitches for a knife wound on his hand. The wound is now infected, so the stitches were removed, and the wound is cleaned and packed with gauze. The ED doctor plans to have the man return tomorrow to remove the packing and resuture the wound. You are aware that the wound will now heal by what means?

The nurse in the ED is caring for a man who has returned to the ED 4 days after receiving stitches for a knife wound on his hand. The wound is now infected, so the stitches were removed, and the wound is cleaned and packed with gauze. The ED doctor plans to have the man return tomorrow to remove the packing and resuture the wound. You are aware that the wound will now heal by what means?

The nurse is caring for a patient who underwent a left below-the-knee amputation 48 hours ago. During the assessment, the nurse notes that the patient is reporting a burning sensation in the toes of his left foot, which is no longer there. What does this finding suggest?

The nurse is reviewing a patient's preoperative checklist. Which item must be confirmed before sending the patient to the OR?

The circulating nurse is monitoring a patient under spinal anesthesia. What complication should the nurse watch for?

The nurse is providing care for a patient on postoperative day 2 following a colectomy. The patient's temperature is 101.8°F (38.8°C). What should the nurse do first?