Barrier cream compliance?!

[bleafcna]

Hey all! So I'm new to the wound cart in my LTC facility. I have a list of people who get barrier cream, how can I dish it out to the cnas and get them to put it on? I'm taking over for someone who was never giving it out so I have .y work cut out for me haha. Any advice is appreciated!

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

Not sure what state you are in, but you may want to make sure barrier cream (and the specific barrier cream ordered) is within both the CNA scope of practice for your state as well as the policies of the facility you work for.

Only unmedicated barrier creams are allowed to be applied by CNAs in the state I am in and often patients at high risk have barrier creams that are considered medicated. Policy at your facility may require this to be performed by a SN as it is a physician's order. Another consideration is that assessment should be occurring to monitor for areas of concern on high risk individuals.

If the CNAs are allowed to apply barrier cream; turning/ repositioning and other aspects of care for patients at high risk for skin integrity can all be addressed at the same time as "rolling out" application of barrier cream. Education and monitoring are essential. Getting the CNAs involved in implementing a plan often increases ownership and compliance.