How to measure a wound

[jlogan]

What is the correct way to measure a wound without touching it? I have wound care check offs coming up and two different instructors telling the class two different things. One instructor uses a large swab to measure depth of wound and actually touches the bottom of the wound, other instructor says it's OK to use swab but not to touch any part of the wound with the swab. Whole class is confused. Someone please help.

[Julesmama28]

You use a sterile swab, and you do touch the wound! No way not to.

[SaoirseRN]

You could not accurately measure depth without touching the wound. As long as the swab is sterile, right? However, perhaps mention to both instructors the conflicting info and see what they say together, since we here are not checking you off on skills.

Edited: because I meant "could not", not could.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Check this site out....Measuring wounds | Wound Care Advisor ::

[jlogan]

Thanks everyone for the help. Instructors are just not in tune with each other or something . I was practicing wound care today in the lab and when I set up my supplies like one instructor showed me the nursing program coordinator said that I set my stuff up wrong, I should have told her that's the way I was told to do it but was too afraid to say anything

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Perfectly OK to say that, or to explain that the reason you did it that way was to maintain sterility of the supplies by .... and make it easier to use without contamination because ... , show her you're thinking.

[cadawasp]

Perfectly OK to say that or to explain that the reason you did it that way was to maintain sterility of the supplies by .... and make it easier to use without contamination because ... , show her you're thinking. [/quote']

Wound care is a clean procedure. Maintaining a clean environment is what you need to do. Measuring a wound with a wound measuring square or a paper tape and a swab requires clean technique and as such you can you h the wound then dispose of the instrument used properly.

[davi000]

wound care is sterile method not clean. use cotton tip applicator to measure the depth of wound.