During wound cleansing, in what direction should you cleanse?

Study for the ATI Fundamentals 5 Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with explanations and hints. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

During wound cleansing, in what direction should you cleanse?

Explanation:
Cleaning a wound should proceed from clean to dirty. This approach prevents transferring bacteria from surrounding, uninfected skin toward the wound and helps avoid recontaminating areas that have already been cleaned. Use a new gauze or swab for each stroke and move progressively toward the wound, rather than brushing from the wound outward or in random patterns. Circular motions or cleaning in any direction that isn’t clean-to-dirty can spread contaminants and increase infection risk.

Cleaning a wound should proceed from clean to dirty. This approach prevents transferring bacteria from surrounding, uninfected skin toward the wound and helps avoid recontaminating areas that have already been cleaned. Use a new gauze or swab for each stroke and move progressively toward the wound, rather than brushing from the wound outward or in random patterns. Circular motions or cleaning in any direction that isn’t clean-to-dirty can spread contaminants and increase infection risk.

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