Procedure Checklist Chapter 34: Obtaining A Wound Culture by Swab

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 2

PROCEDURE CHECKLIST

Chapter 34: Obtaining a Wound Culture by Swab

Check (9) Yes or No

PROCEDURE STEPS Yes No COMMENTS


1. Places the patient in a comfortable position that
provides easy access to the wound and will allow the
irrigation solution to flow freely from the wound, with
the assistance of gravity.
2. Places a water-resistant disposable drape to protect
the bedding from any runoff.
3. After washing and drying the hands, applies a
gown, face shield, and clean gloves.
4. Removes the soiled dressing. Disposes of gloves
and soiled dressing in a biohazard bag.
5. Applies clean gloves.
6. Places an emesis basin at the bottom of the wound
to collect irrigation runoff.
7. Avoids touching the wound with the basin.
8. Attaches a 19 gauge Angiocath to a 35 cc syringe
and fills it with normal saline irrigation solution.
9. Holding the Angiocath tip 2 cm from the wound
bed, gently irrigates the wound with a back and forth
motion, moving from the superior aspect to the inferior
aspect.
10. Disposes of the syringe and Angiocath in the
sharps container, and gloves in the biohazard waste.
11. Obtains a Culturette tube and twists the top of the
tube to loosen the swab.
12. Applies clean gloves and locates an area of red,
granulating tissue in the wound bed.
13. Withdraws the swab from the Culturette tube.
Presses the swab against the granulating area and
rotates the swab.
a. Does not allow the swab to touch
anything other than the granulating area
of the wound.
b. Does not swab culture areas with slough or
eschar present.
14. Carefully inserts the swab back into the Culturette
tube, making sure it does not make contact with the
opening of tube upon reinsertion.

Copyright © 2007, F. A. Davis Company, Wilkinson & Van Leuven/Procedure Checklists for Fundamentals of Nursing
15. Twists the cap to secure the tube.
16. Crushes the ampule of culture medium at the
bottom of the tube. (Note: Inspects the culture tube
used to determine if this step is required.)
17. Labels the Culturette tube with the patient’s name,
birthdate, source of specimen, and date and time of
collection. (Labels may be provided with the
Culturette kit.)
18. Applies a clean dressing to the wound as ordered.

Recommendation: Pass ______ Needs more practice ______

Student: Date:

Instructor: Date:

Copyright © 2007, F. A. Davis Company, Wilkinson & Van Leuven/Procedure Checklists for Fundamentals of Nursing

You might also like