help with wound packing

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I'm a new student nurse and I am in need of some help with wound care techniques. What are the proper steps in packing a wound with packing strip? Does the packing strip need to be wet with saline if it is a wet-to-dry?

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after cleaning, pack wound with NS-wet gauze, then cover with dry gauze -- wet to dry. hope this helps. :D

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Specializes in SICU, Peds CVICU.

Hopefully your nursing textbook has some really good step-by-step pictures of wound packing and other procedures. Potter and Perry does a good job, though I'm sure there are many others.

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

yes it does need to be wet! all you need to do is soak the gauze strip in some normal saline (NS), pack it into a wound with a Q-tip (if needed with a deep wound), then cover with a dry piece of gauze, and cover with a piece of tape. hope that makes a little more sense and if not definitely send back more questions...

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thank you, this does help a lot. my nursing textbook doesn't give a clear step by step process.

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

if they haven't suggested it yet, look perry and potter's clinical nursing guide (not sure of the exact name, but just search for perry and potter)

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Specializes in Med Surg, Home Health, Dialysis, Tele.

after cleaning the wound, moisten/wet the gauze w/ns or other prescribed solution, place the wet gauze in contact w/the wound bed, then place dry gauze on top of that, then tape. remember when to change your gloves. a lot of nurses forget that one. i have done a lot of wound care in home health.

boy i sure wish this were me!!!:onbch:

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