hernia groin repair question

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Oct 5, 2004

calling all RN's
I have a question on what I would tell a teenager that is being discharged after rec a groin hernia repair. What would teach him about changing his dressings?
And how would I proceed to teach this teenager?
Is this correct?
I would telling him to do nothing vigourous for 2-3 weeks, keep the wound clean by changing the dressing 2x a day with gauze, watch for redness or infection around the site, call if he has any questions. I would ask the client to reflect the info back to me and then advise the parents of the same thing I told him.
Is this enough teaching for a teenager, or am I missing something?
HELP!! :uhoh21: 1st semester nursing student

I think you did very well. I would certainly stress the need to be aware of s/s of infection, including a generalized temperature, and I would go into detail about the s/s of infection, i.e. pus or drainage from the surgical site, swelling at the site, bleeding and generalized fever of 101 or greater. I would also talk about regular bowel elimination patterns and when to call the physician. Otherwise, your teaching plan looks good.

kario · Oct 5, 2004

Thanks for your quick response!! Do you know if the stitches would be dissovable or not.?? Does that depend upon the doctor doing the operation???

Thanks again for your help.

Kim / Class of 2006/May

QUOTE=RNPATL]I think you did very well. I would certainly stress the need to be aware of s/s of infection, including a generalized temperature, and I would go into detail about the s/s of infection, i.e. pus or drainage from the surgical site, swelling at the site, bleeding and generalized fever of 101 or greater. I would also talk about regular bowel elimination patterns and when to call the physician. Otherwise, your teaching plan looks good.

Rnn2003, MSN, RN · Oct 5, 2004

Hi Kim: I like your teaching about s/sx however you got me on the dressing change. I am an peri-operative nurse and most times the Dr will have post op orders that will specify how many times the dressing is to be changed. A lot of surgeons are closing the skin with dermabond which does not require a dressing period....some use steristrips with a sub Q close still with out dressings so in short if you are doing your own fake pt or real pt check the orders so that dressing changes will reflect what the surgeon has ordered. Hope this answer helped:)

kario · Oct 6, 2004

Thanks a million. It an assignment for H@P. The patient is fake.I was just asking about the stitches because when I was gathering my info the talked about steristrips tioo.