LPN taking wound care course; skin tear question - Page 2

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  1. Feb 1 by
    Impregnated gauzes work well, and one thing I have had great luck with as far as keeping dressings in place on limbs (skin tears are general on arms/legs but obviously can happen anywhere), is tubifast or surgilast, any type of tubular elastic dressing retainer. I generally try not to include any frequencies in our protocols, I try to let the wound characteristics and drainage dictate dressing change frequency.
  2. Feb 11 by
    Mepilex is the best!
  3. Feb 17 by
    Quote from mommy.19
    Impregnated gauzes work well, and one thing I have had great luck with as far as keeping dressings in place on limbs (skin tears are general on arms/legs but obviously can happen anywhere), is tubifast or surgilast, any type of tubular elastic dressing retainer. I generally try not to include any frequencies in our protocols, I try to let the wound characteristics and drainage dictate dressing change frequency.
    I would love to not have to include frequency in our dressing change orders, but I was told we have to. That way orders match policies. Could be different at different types of facilities though.
  4. Feb 18 by
    There absolutely must be a frequency indicated on *orders*, however I was speaking about *protocols* if such are set in place, that basically everything except the frequency should be predetermined for wounds of generally similar nature, such as skin tears to extremities, stage 2 pressure ulcers, etc. This acts a guideline, rather than an unmalleable rule for wounds which appear or at discovered at a time when the wound nurse or physician is not available to select initial dressings.
  5. Feb 19 by
    Quote from mommy.19
    Impregnated gauzes work well, and one thing I have had great luck with as far as keeping dressings in place on limbs (skin tears are general on arms/legs but obviously can happen anywhere), is tubifast or surgilast, any type of tubular elastic dressing retainer. I generally try not to include any frequencies in our protocols, I try to let the wound characteristics and drainage dictate dressing change frequency.
    Mommy.19.... this is exactly what I used to do in England to my patients with skin flaps. So lovely to see that this simple and very effective method is being used in the USA too! Hoping to become WOC certified in the USA soon!