Post Operative washes???

Hypnopompic · Oct 30, 2002

I aplogize, if this dosent turn out right--I have not used a bulletin board before.... Anyhow, I would like to pose a question for a inquiry paper I am writing. Does anyone have any backgroud on post op washes, other than they are hospital policy? And/or where I could find literature around this topic.

sunnygirl272 · Oct 30, 2002

your post turned out ok..but what do you mean by post-op washes?

sunnygirl272 · Oct 30, 2002

your post turned out ok..but what do you mean by post-op washes?

Hypnopompic · Oct 30, 2002

Thanks for the reply. What I mean is that when the patients get on to the floor after surgery they always get a bed bath (post operative wash). I was wondering why this is, is it because of policy, hygiene, ect.--I had a situation where a RN almost forced a patient to let her wash him because that it is called a post op wash and that is just what they do. I just want to know the rational behind washing this guy's groin when he had knee surgery. What is the history/rational behind post op washes, and it is out of date? ty:D

Hypnopompic · Oct 30, 2002

Thanks for the reply. What I mean is that when the patients get on to the floor after surgery they always get a bed bath (post operative wash). I was wondering why this is, is it because of policy, hygiene, ect.--I had a situation where a RN almost forced a patient to let her wash him because that it is called a post op wash and that is just what they do. I just want to know the rational behind washing this guy's groin when he had knee surgery. What is the history/rational behind post op washes, and it is out of date? ty:D

shannonRN, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2002

i haven't heard of this practice. at least they don't do it at my hospital. then again i have only worked med-surg for 1 1/2 years. it might have been a common post op procedure before my time. sorry that i couldn't be of much help. good luck with researching the topic. let us know what you find out!!

shannonRN, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2002

i haven't heard of this practice. at least they don't do it at my hospital. then again i have only worked med-surg for 1 1/2 years. it might have been a common post op procedure before my time. sorry that i couldn't be of much help. good luck with researching the topic. let us know what you find out!!

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2002

I have never heard or seen someone require a post-op wash. I can see that sometimes there is pre-op wash left in the area of the incision and it may need to be cleaned to watch for hemotoma or something, but just to give a bath because they came back from surgery i dont understand.

It could be that this person didnt get a full pre-op bath if it was an emergency surgery and there was something said when the patient returned to the floor about them having some overly offensive BO or crusting that needed cleaned up.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2002

I have never heard or seen someone require a post-op wash. I can see that sometimes there is pre-op wash left in the area of the incision and it may need to be cleaned to watch for hemotoma or something, but just to give a bath because they came back from surgery i dont understand.

It could be that this person didnt get a full pre-op bath if it was an emergency surgery and there was something said when the patient returned to the floor about them having some overly offensive BO or crusting that needed cleaned up.

aus nurse · Oct 31, 2002

Post-op washes are common practice here, at least in the hospitals I have worked in. It is aimed at bed bound patients rather than ones able to mobilise. They can get to the bathroom and shower or wash as preferred. Here we use Betadine (iodine)

in OR as a skin antibacterial (or antimicrobial, whatever it is!) and it can cover a wide area around the operative site. It becomes quite sticky and uncomfortable. So as far as I have always believed it is for the patient's comfort that we do these washes not for any infection control purpose. Sorry I can't provide you with any policies or anything to back this up...it is just accepted as common practice where I have worked. If any of my patient's refused a post-op I would never insist. It is their decision.

Hope this helped:)

aus nurse · Oct 31, 2002

Post-op washes are common practice here, at least in the hospitals I have worked in. It is aimed at bed bound patients rather than ones able to mobilise. They can get to the bathroom and shower or wash as preferred. Here we use Betadine (iodine)

in OR as a skin antibacterial (or antimicrobial, whatever it is!) and it can cover a wide area around the operative site. It becomes quite sticky and uncomfortable. So as far as I have always believed it is for the patient's comfort that we do these washes not for any infection control purpose. Sorry I can't provide you with any policies or anything to back this up...it is just accepted as common practice where I have worked. If any of my patient's refused a post-op I would never insist. It is their decision.

Hope this helped:)