Safety and Infection ControlQuestion 1875 of 2368
A client has a central line with a gauze dressing placed 3 days ago. The dressing is clean, dry, and intact. What should the nurse do?
- Leave the dressing in place until it is routinely changed on day 7
- Change it now, because gauze must be changed at least every 48 hours
- Reinforce the gauze dressing with a transparent dressing over it
- Change the dressing only if the client reports pain or tenderness
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Correct answer: Change it now, because gauze must be changed at least every 48 hours
Gauze dressings must be changed at least every 48 hours, even when intact. The 7-day interval applies to transparent dressings.
Source: Nursing Advanced Skills (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Manage Central Lines: CVAD Dressing Changes and Site Care. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Practice the topic "Safety and Infection Control"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026