When teaching about wound care in the home environment,the nurse instructs the patient and caregiver to:

A) make normal saline with 8 teaspoons of salt and 1 gallon of distilled water.
B) use normal saline for 1 week and then discard it.
C) not apply topical anesthetics before wound care.
D) call the physician's office to have someone come to the home and complete the wound care.

Teach the patient and caregiver how to make normal saline,especially if cost is an issue.They can make normal saline by using 8 teaspoons of salt in 1 gallon of distilled water and keeping it refrigerated for 1 month.The saline solution should be allowed to reach room temperature before use.Commonly used topical anesthetic solutions include 2% and 4% lidocaine jelly,which inactivates exposed wound pain receptors.Some patients need to receive wound care management in an outpatient wound care clinic.Be sure the patient has directions to the clinic and knows where to park and where to obtain dressing supplies.