Which tape to use?

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

Maybe it's obvious or maybe it's taught in nursing school but which kind of tape should I use when doing dressings? I never thought to ask when I was learning to do them.

Thank you!

[Plenur, BSN, MSN, RN]

Maybe it's obvious or maybe it's taught in nursing school but which kind of tape should I use when doing dressings? I never thought to ask when I was learning to do them.

Thank you!

Anyone that paste...

When it´s necessary to stick to skin, I prefer paper tape or hypoallergenic. But it depends.

[Nurse Leigh]

I think it depends on the type of wound dressing, location on the body, and the integrity of patient's skin.

Paper tape can work on those with delicate skin better than stronger tapes but even it can really stick to skin sometimes.

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

I think it depends on the type of wound dressing, location on the body, and the integrity of patient's skin.

Paper tape can work on those with delicate skin better than stronger tapes but even it can really stick to skin sometimes.

What if they're young with strong skin? Is it better to use the duraspore (?) because it's kind of water resistant?

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

If the patient has good, thick skin, I like using silk tape because it really stays put. Paper tape hardly sticks to anyone at all, in my experience, but it's better than silk tape if the patient is really fragile. When you have a patient with really thin, fragile skin, but you really need the dressing to stay put, Hypafix tape is a good option. Unfortunately, my job considers that a specialty supply so the patient has to have an order for Hypafix and it has to come from the supply room, which can take forever. Not to mention Hypafix is a pain in the butt to get taped down, what with having to peel two lines of paper off of it.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I don't know about on the floors, but in the OR, the surgeons definitely have preferences for the type of dressing and tape. The colorectal guys like paper type, the neuro guys like hypafix, the ortho and cardiac guys like foam. Perhaps take note of preferences or what was on the dressing before changing it?

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

I don't know about on the floors, but in the OR, the surgeons definitely have preferences for the type of dressing and tape. The colorectal guys like paper type, the neuro guys like hypafix, the ortho and cardiac guys like foam. Perhaps take note of preferences or what was on the dressing before changing it?

I work in the ER so there's usually no dressing initially and generally the PAs aren't entirely sure about what to use. Thank you though!

[dishes, BSN, RN]

There are wound care articles with tables that compare medical tapes that can be used as a decision guide.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

Microfoam tape is one of my favorite things ever. A lot of dressings aren't appropriate for it, though.

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

There are wound care articles with tables that compare medical tapes that can be used as a decision guide.

I plan on actually researching later but I wanted an answer sooner that's why I posted the question

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

Microfoam tape is one of my favorite things ever. A lot of dressings aren't appropriate for it, though.

What dressings would you say are good with microfoam?

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

If you're at work ask a senior nurse or your charge. It really depends on the type of wound, the pts skin and how long the dressing needs to be on. If the skin is fragile sometimes I will dress the wound with non stick and a small kerlix. That way no tape comes in contact with fragile skin. That works great on limbs