best way for a nurse to manage cuts on her fingers?

[RNexplorer]

I know this is going to sound stupid.. but I have a really bad cut on the edge of my right index finger. How do I promote asepsis with patients and avoid contaminating my wound?

I've been putting several bandaids on it, but they do become loose over time. So I just reapply a million bandaids over the course of a shift... I'm worried that the bandaid could harbor bacteria.. even though I am cleaning it with alcohol hand sanitizer when I sanitize my hands. I'm also worried that if I remove the bandaid, I could get something into my wound... but the bandaid look is just awful.. and I'm getting a lot of looks from other professionals...

Any suggestions out there on how a nurse should manage a cut on her finger??

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

First of all, not stupid at all, it's a pretty common issue. If you like the dermabond idea and don't have access to abundant supply (i.e., not an ER nurse), there's a veterinary product (still sterile) called "vet-bond" I think. I keep it around since my husband is active doing home improvement projects all the time.

[annie.rn]

I also say Tegaderm. I have had it last a whole shift. You can get it to lie flat and make a perfect seal by using the smallest piece possible and applying it carefully. I also like the clear, waterproof band aids. Some even have Neosporin embedded into the padded part.

[Cinquefoil]

I've had hand burns, small but open during work shifts. I found that a single Tegaderm stuck ok until I needed to, oh, say, sanitize or wash my hands.

Solution? Goopy skin adhesive, the kind we use to make NG tube securing devices stick to the nose. Then multiple Tegaderms formed into a kind of bionic half-glove. Even that would melt off or get wet about 4x per shift, but the wound stayed protected. Not sure how it worked from an effective hand cleansing point of view, though. I mean, it stayed on ok but did the dressing really ever get clean?

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Go to CVS and buy some "clear skin", it works great!

HPRN

[kiszi, RN]

I type this as I have 5 cuts on my fingers from this work week. The cold weather is not forgiving and hand sanitizer is like an instant paper cut finder. I feel your pain, girl!

It's the worst when you don't know you have a little cut and the sanitizer finds it for you! At least if you know you have one you can brace for it..

I haven't tried tegaderm but will after reading this. Maybe with a little skin prep beforehand?

[newohiorn, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

As others said, look into Vetbond. Very similar to Dermabond and about half the price. This was a lifesaver for me last winter when my hands were very badly cracked. I was able to use it many times without the bottle tip getting glued shut like super glue sometimes does. I've tried Super glue in the past but work for very long. Vetbond lasted a few days.

http://www.amazon.com/Vetbond-by-3M-3-mL/dp/B004C12Q46/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415593068&sr=8-1&keywords=vetbond+tissue+adhesive

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

If the cut or crack is not too deep, I use OTC stuff like Liquid Bandage, Nu-Skin, or Nexcare Skin Crack Care. Most of these products work for small areas but will need re-application throughout a shift. At least you won't feel the burn of alcohol or hand sanitizer on your hands! Dermabond works too if you can get ahold of it. I don't like using band aids, tegaderm, steri-strips, or finger cots as they fall off too much and they usually decrease sensation or movement if you're trying to start an IV.

If the cut is deep enough, get stitches and stay home until it heals. MRSA is no fun!

[jojo489]

Go get nexcare band aids. They are waterproof, thin, and really stick for a long time. And they're very flexible, they move with you. I just had a blister on the joint in the inside of my thumb and I covered it with those...amazing. Lasted through several hand washings before I needed to change it. And I also wore gloves during patient contact for a just in case.

[jojo489]

Also...they're adhesive all around the gauze patch, so that's really nice too.

[JustcallmeNurse]

I am on the Tegaderm bandwagon also. If the cut is worse than a papercut then I'll Neosporin, bandaid, then Tegaderm. Otherwise, just Tegaderm. Works pretty well for me. Yay for winter and dry, cracked skin. :-/