A client is being prepared for abdominal surgery. Hair at the incision site will interfere with the procedure. Which action should the nurse take?
1Shave the area with a razor the evening before surgery
2Apply depilatory cream to the area without checking skin sensitivity
3Remove a wide field of hair to make postoperative dressing changes easier
4Clip the necessary hair close to the procedure time according to policy✓ Correct answer
Explanation
Hair is removed when it interferes with surgery, and clipping is preferred to shaving because razors create microscopic skin injury that increases infection risk. Removal is limited and performed near the procedure time.
Quick answer Clip the interfering hair near surgery time and limit removal to the needed area.
Why this is correct Microscopic razor cuts can become entry points for organisms and raise surgical-site infection risk. Clippers avoid close scraping, while limiting the field and timing removal near the procedure reduce unnecessary skin disruption and contamination time.
Easy analogy or mental picture Clipping is like trimming grass above the soil instead of scraping the soil surface. The analogy describes reduced skin trauma but does not replace the facility's skin-preparation and equipment procedures.
Memory hook If hair interferes: clip, limit, and do it near procedure time.
NCLEX decision rule Do not remove operative-site hair for convenience. When removal is necessary, use a method and timing that minimize skin injury and follow infection-prevention policy.
Why the other choices are wrong Razor shaving creates microabrasions. Unchecked depilatory use can injure skin, and removing a broad field adds avoidable trauma without improving infection prevention.
References
[1]
NCSBN: 2026 NCLEX-RN Test PlanNational Council of State Boards of Nursing
[2]
CDC Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site InfectionU.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention