[2425baldy]

What is the best practice for rotation of transdermal patches? (eg..nitro, fentanyl); Specifically how many days between application to the same site?

[Lexxie]

For Fentanyl patches which are changed every 3 days, we generally rotate from right chest to right upper back to left upper back to left chest. If a resident is prone to picking at things, we'll stick to the back sites or sometimes put them on the thighs where the patch is covered by clothing or can't be reached. Oftentimes, our nitro patches are just rotated between right & left chest, since they are only on for approximately 12 hrs. Of course if either of those sites gets irritated, we'll change the site.