waterdrop22

That is awful! I have never been more thankful that the wounds I care for have no odor.

It was a skin tear, but d/t the psoriasis (and the cream we were using to counter the psoriasis) tore away 12X6cm of the superficial skin. She isn't a candidate for a skin graft because of the psoriasis. At any rate, we are using sterile gloves while applying the Xeroform because our DNS requested it. And decided to let the wound clinic do the skin trimming (she sees the wound clinic weekly). Still don't know if there is any policy about xeroform being a sterile procedure. But in the mean time, we are doing our best to prevent infection by making it sterile. So thats a good thing, right?

Update: I did end up going in and talking to the Nurse mangers of both a telemetry unit and the NICU that I had prior experience in (senior practicum/ capstone). Both mangers were receptive to me coming in without an appointment from HR, and they considered it part of the interview process. Unfortunately the PRN NICU position was not approved by corporate (even though I was offered the job) and after 2 meetings with the NICU nurse manger decided to go into LTC while waiting for the position to be approved. I am still in contact with the NICU manger, while working at a small town nursing home (which by the way, I love :redbeathe... even if it's not where I want to be ultimately). Thank you all for your input! Finding a job as a new graduate was very hard, and I ended up going back to the nursing home I worked with as an NAC. But the economy is improving

Carre, this is where I'm confused. The orders say nothing about it being a sterile technique. As for sharp debridement (looking up now), for Washington it looks like we need to take a special course as an RN. Wow, I didn't even know there were restrictions for that. Well this is good to know, I'm surprised the plastic surgeon gave us this order if we cant even do it.

Undermining: when the depth of the wound extends past the original opening. Sort of like a plastic water bottle. It differs from tunneling in that tunneling is usually in one direction, whereas undermining extends past the opening in all directions. Does that help?

Hello fellow nurses :) I work in LTC and we have a resident who fell and tore her skin to the muscle. We are placing xeroform on the section of the wound that has either dead skin or no skin, and kerlix over the top. One of the nurses I work with was a MA before he became an RN and argues that xeroform should be applied as a sterile procedure. Has anyone else heard of this practice? So far I've kept it a sterile procedure, but I'm unsure if the other nurses are doing the same, and I'd like some evidence to back up either procedure. The plastic surgeon gave us orders to cut the dead skin, so I'm trying to figure out if we need sterile or clean scissors as well. Your thoughts and current practice appreciated.

I need some advice. I live in an area where having nursing experience is key to getting an hospital job. We have 3 nursing schools in our area and needless to say, have way too many nurses. I am crazy and fell in love with a NICU at one of our five hospitals during my senior practicum (120hrs spent in your specialty of choice) (oh, and yes, I am a new grad, without experience). At the moment that NICU is only hiring "on call" experienced nurses (I did apply), so I've been applying for every job at that hospital just to get in door. My question is: Is it okay to walk onto the unit I am applying for and introduce myself to the nurse manager? Or is that stepping over the boundaries set between the nurse recruiter and the nurse manager? I would really like to go in today, but I don't want to ruin my chances of getting the job. Thank you!