A Pressure Dressing Is Applied to the Face and Neck

question 21

Multiple Choice

A pressure dressing is applied to the face and neck of a patient following an elective rhytidectomy performed in an outpatient surgical center. The patient tells the nurse that the dressing feels very restrictive and asks whether it can be loosened. When explaining the purpose of the dressing, which response by the nurse is accurate?

• A) "The dressing will reduce the risk for swelling and prolonged healing at the site."
• B) "The dressing will protect against infection, a common problem after this type of surgery."
• C) "The surgical site will be very painful if the dressing is removed too soon after surgery."
• D) "The edges of the incisions will tend to come apart if the dressing is loosened too soon."

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Definitions:

Epidermis

The outermost layer of cells covering an organism, notably the skin of animals or the surface layer of plants.

Chloroplasts

Organelles found in plant and algal cells where photosynthesis occurs, converting light energy into chemical energy.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with carbon dioxide and water, generating oxygen as a byproduct.

Opaque

Not allowing light to pass through; not transparent or translucent.