Proper Sterile Tech During PICC dressing change

Specialties Med-Surg

Published

What is your process for removing a PICC dressing while still maintaining sterile tecnique?

I set up my field, partially remove the tegaderm (sp), glove up, slide my sterile hand under the teg and pull the dressing off with my dirty hand; then I grab my cloroform wand with my sterile hand, clean and replace the biopatch?

Have I broken Sterile tech? What is your process?

I'm not quite sure why you would get sterile before fully removing the old dressing. By touching the old dressing with a sterile glove you have just contaminated that hand. I put on clean gloves, set up my sterile field and gloves, remove the old dressing, then put on my sterile gloves, etc...

Once you slide that sterile hand under the teg, it is no longer sterile. When you go on to reach for the wand and/or gauze, you have contaminated your field, and the new dressing preparation and supplies.

The above comment by sslamster is correct.

Specializes in APRN.

Wash hands and apply clean gloves. Remove old dressing carefully; hold the cannula hub with you non dominate hand. Assess your insertion site. Perform hand hygiene and open dressing kit in a sterile manner. Most kits have all the supplies in them including hand sanitizer. Apply sterile gloves and set up your site. Clean site with antimicrobial swab. Hold the cannula with your non dominate hand and clean with your dominate hand. Allow to fully dry - do not blow on it (you should be wearing a mask) and do not fan the site dry either. Redress the site. Label appropriately.

+ Add a Comment