# A client is being prepared for abdominal surgery. Hair at the incision site will interfere with the procedure. Which action should the nurse take?

> source: MyMerci (mymerci.kr)  
> url: https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=498857&lang=en  
> language: en  
> subject: Adverse Effects/Contraindications/Interactions  
> category: SIPC

## Question

A client is being prepared for abdominal surgery. Hair at the incision site will interfere with the procedure. Which action should the nurse take?

## Option

1. Shave the area with a razor the evening before surgery
2. Apply depilatory cream to the area without checking skin sensitivity
3. Remove a wide field of hair to make postoperative dressing changes easier
4. Clip the necessary hair close to the procedure time according to policy **✔ Correct answer**

**Correct answer: 4**

## 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.

## In-depth explanation

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

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