Who should be notified promptly after a wound evisceration occurs?

• A. Security.
• B. Family member.
• C. Housekeeping.
• D. Healthcare provider.

Answer: (D)

Wound evisceration is a surgical emergency that requires immediate evaluation and intervention by the medical team. Promptly notifying the healthcare provider is essential because they can initiate urgent management, including arranging for surgical evaluation, preparing for potential operative intervention, and ordering necessary treatments like IV fluids, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and sterile wound care. In the moments before help arrives, the nurse should cover the protruding viscera with sterile saline-soaked gauze, keep the patient flat with knees bent if feasible, and monitor vital signs. Roles like security, a family member, or housekeeping do not provide or coordinate urgent medical treatment, so they are not the appropriate person to alert first. After stabilization, the patient and family can be supported and informed, but immediate contact should be to the healthcare provider.