Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
Home Health Nursing /

UNNA boot sticking to wounds........



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,258 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.

Sep 23, 2009 09:20 AM

UNNA boot sticking to wounds........


I also posted this in the wound nursing forum, but wanted to get as many responses as possible...so Im posting it here for all you homehealth nurses. Hopefully someone can give me some advice.

I have been applying unna boots to my patient twice weekly for about 3 weeks now. Its so painful for her because of the drainage that causes the boot to stick to the wounds. It takes me forever to get them off of her so I can reapply them. I know the boots have medi-paste in them to aide in wound healing so Ive been hesitant to apply any non-stick like adaptic over the wounds prior to applying the boot. If I apply such a dressing, wouldnt that keep the medi-paste from penetrating the wounds? I called the doc, but he is on vacation and the nurse didnt kinow if I should or not.
She was recently hospitalized and when she was d/c'ed home, I had to go and change them a few days later...to find adaptic over the wounds...which made it so easy to remove the boots. Thats how the d/c nurse had applied them (there was no order for that). Some people tell me to do so, some tell me not to. Ive been told to apply lotion to leg prior to applying, then Ive been told not to. Im so confused.
I just feel so bad for this woman...removing the unna boot is so painful and it literally pulls away skin with them. Ive soaked them in saline, Ive soaked them in water, which really doesnt help much to get them unstuck. Any advice would be very much appreciated. I have to change them again on Friday and Im hoping for it to be less painful/traumatic for her. She even cries, which makes me feel so bad for her.
I know I have to have an order for anything new I do, but I was just wondering if anyone here has learned a technique or tricks so that I could mention to the doc. Most wound care is up to us homehealth nurses. Thanks.


Share

Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Reply
4 Comments
No. 1
from annaedRN
Old Sep 23, 2009, 05:24 PM

Default Re: UNNA boot sticking to wounds........
could you switch to a 2 or 4 layer compression wrap system (such as Profore) so then you could use Adpatic or some other such non-stick dressing. If the ulcers are bad...you could use Iodosorb gel then Adaptic before wrapping. I've suggested that to docs and really had it heal up. I had a lady that the unna boots seemed to make it worse..switched and started improving fairly quickly. Hope that helps..
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 2
Old Sep 23, 2009, 08:24 PM

Default Re: UNNA boot sticking to wounds........
Thank you so much. I dont know what profore is. I'll have to look that one up. It sounds like something great. Anything better than what Im doing now. Thanks so much for your advice. I appreciate it. I hate wound care.
Top
 
No. 3
Old Sep 23, 2009, 08:31 PM

Default Re: UNNA boot sticking to wounds........
Now I know what it is! Thanks. I think thats what she needs. Im gonna discuss this with the md. thanks again!
Top
 
No. 4
from annaedRN
Old Sep 23, 2009, 09:28 PM

Default Re: UNNA boot sticking to wounds........
Good luck! Hope it works. Picking out wound care products gets a little easier the longer you do it. It's great when the docs are on board with us...since we do this day in and day out!! We frequently get the call to assess a wound and recommend what is best...love those ones!!
Top
 
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
246 members
2,394 guests
2,640

0

Interesting article on ThedaCare's Collaborative Care Model

1

Possible breakthrough regarding MS

30

16th Philly area hospital to stop delivering babies: Mercy...

7

Really interesting article on Indian open hearts

4

High-Tech Pump Does What Her Heart Can't

2

Air Force RN Force RN Found Not Guilty

12

Hospital Falters as Refuge for Illegal Immigrants

6

California Imposes Stricter Rules Regarding Drug Abuse In...

38

Are older nurses being forced out of the profession?

3

An outlook in California?



1

Society Needs Care Too

12

Why am I doing this, anyway?

2

Nurse Heal Thyself

9

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.

17

I made it through

11

An angel's gaze

15

A Sister Never Forgets

16

Ruby's Marbles

37

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?

14

My Little Old Jedi

20

I love this job......

23

"I hear voices"

19

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...

24

Error and Attitude

10

It's Just a Shower





Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: