A nurse is assigned to change a central line dressing. The agency policy is to clean the site with Betadine and then cleanse with alcohol. The nurse recently attended a conference that presented information that alcohol should precede Betadine in a dressing change. In addition, an article in a nursing journal stated that a new product was a more effective antibacterial than alcohol and Betadine. The nurse has a sample of the new product. How should the nurse proceed?
1
Use the new product sample when changing the dressing.
2
Cleanse the site with alcohol first and then with Betadine.
3
Cleanse the site with the new product first and then follow the agency’s protocol.
4
Follow the agency’s policy unless it is contradicted by a health care provider’s order.