PT Doing wound care?!

When I worked on the rehab unit at my hospital, it was not all that unusual for PT to do SOME of the simple dressing changes, but I wouldn't let them do it on my pts... heck, if I have to chart on the wound, I need to see it.

Some of the nurses would let the aides do their dressing changes.... UUUGGGGHHGH

I work in a small hospital in an urban area, about 250 beds, and I've seen PT do wound care in many instances. If a patient were ordered whirlpool treatments, PT will perform this treatment as well as redressing the wound after the treatment is completed. I spoke with a friend who is pursuing a career in PT and she was taught this as a part of her in school training. I trust the PT staff at my hospital to do this and have not seen any negative reactions as a result of this...as of yet anyway.

Is she taking antibiotics at all? If it were me, I would insist (to either my dr. or the manager of the PT dept) that I wanted to see a wound care specialist. I know that PT's are very well educated, but if the wound is near the anal area, there may be some other concerns (infection, contamination of dressing site) that a PT isn't trained to address.

As far back as I remember PTs are fully qualified to debride and do other wound care. Dressings should be covered there. PTs have master's degrees, I think.

You are correct - PT's have master's degree at entry-level. They are fully qualified to do wound care.

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Not EVERY d*mn thing has to be a nursing function. We can loosen the reigns a little bit and let the other services take care of our patients too. If it is an issue of not being able to see the wound - it is acceptable to chart "unable to assess" and list the dressing as the reason, describing the dressing (dry, intact, or exudate present, etc.) Whoever changes the dressing will be charting the condition of the wound. Some of those dressings are supposed to be left in place and not messed with - to the point that even the next shift (and possibly a couple of shifts after that) should leave it in place - not even moving it to peek! Sometimes our need to see everything is detrimental to the therapies we are providing.

Hi

In Illinois. PT's do wound care--at my home care employer, the wound care manager was a PT. They are allowed to surgically debried wounds, where nurses are not. When I first started at Home Care, that woman taught me everything I now know about wounds.

At my hospital now, a large trauma center, PT's manage the Wond Vac program.

They are excellent!! I would trust the PT completely as I have seen that they are usually quite progressive & keep up with the latest products.

Of course, this is only my experience.

Mary Ann

PT does the majority of wound care at the hospital in which I work. Nursing only does the most simple of dressings, while PT does whirlpool, debridement, packing, etc.

I have several pt's on home health that I CM. PT and I share the drsg changes. I go out 3 X week, she goes to the Dr. once a week, and then to PT out pt for wound care on alternating days.

here PT's do water-pic. They are very good, and are usually less rushed than nurses.

Amen to not needing everything to be a nursing responsibility! Isn't that the point of interdisciplinary teamwork?

Besides just doing gait training, ROM, etc, PT'S are wound specialists! They are more than qualified to handle these wounds (even the area that it is in). Maybe she needs to see another MD. Also, sedation for dsg changes would make her more comfortable and maybe have no recollection (if they used Versed). I wish your sister good luck.

I guess this is where nurses shine as they are also able to address, administer and monitor appropriate meds pre painful dressing changes/tx. If PT's are wound care certified ( a masters degree alone doesn't qualify anyone to do wound care or manage medication situations, IMO) its OK with me. Extensive outpatient tx would concern me if there were no plan to manage painful debridements and packing.

I suppose her doc could give some extra po meds for pain and sedation pre treatment, but someone else might have to assume responsibility for the patient (transportation, etc)as I doubt a PT would want this added responsibility.

I notice rehab and LTAC facilities are doing more extensive wound care and involving PT as well.

While I don't mind as a staff nurse, I have wondered how specialized wound care nurses feel about PT taking over this duty? Do they feel their specialty is being overtaken?