bell104

I found 'Quick Reference to Wound Care' by Pamela Brown helpful. Not a lot of pics but a lot of helpful information. Also, 'Clinical Guide Skin & Wound Care' 6th edition was helpful because it individually lists wound dressings and tells you what they are appropriate for and wear time, only 8 pages of pics though. You should check out websites like 'the global wound academy by smith & nephew' and 'the wound institute.' They were helpful.

I've been a wound care nurse only for about the past 6 months or so. When I first started at a long term care facility, I noticed a lot of skin prep being used in my facility. In my experience so far, skin prep can toughen the skin and provide a barrier against friction. I found it most beneficial on residents with boggy heels. Applying skin prep a few times a day did toughen the skin and I think prevented further breakdown to the heels. I also use it on blisters but that's it. As far as peeling bed sheets from the resident's skin, if they need the skin prep for prevention then the heels should also be elevated off the surface of the bed to reduce pressure, which would eliminate the bedsheet issue. I looked for info online regarding using skin prep for this purpose but have never come across any. If you find any let me know but in my experience it is appropriate in some situations.

I am a new wound care nurse and am in need of some help with a new patient. 100 yr old lady with unstageable ulcer on sacrum, measures about 4x2x2. Wound bed is 80% slough. She has undermining of 6cm from 5:00 to 9:00. No infection. Copious drainage. I was doing santyl to slough and packing it with aquacel. The undermining is just getting larger. Wound vac not an option. Any ideas on dressing choices? FYI, she doesn't take in much orally and feeding tube not an option for nutrition. I can order just about any wound dressing. I'm just having a hard time deciding the best way to pack this wound. Any help would be appreciated!