removing tegaderm

kmoonshine, RN · May 22, 2008

Use your dominant hand to "stretch" the tegaderm out and pull up, while stabalizing the hub of the IV catheter with your non-dominant hand. Don't peel the tegaderm; stretch it.

O2WSW, ADN · May 22, 2008

The easiest way is to start at an edge and pull and stretch the tegaderm horizontal, not straight up as you would with tape. Continue doing this all the way around the IV site until you are ready to remove it.

debthern · May 22, 2008

please stretch it don't yank it

our8kids · May 22, 2008

My daughter was just on the Peds floor 2 weeks ago. Her nurse removed it by using the fingernail polish remover swabs from the surgical center. She lifted a corner, wiped with the polish, and it just started coming up. She kept wiping as she was lifting. My daughter didn't feel a thing!

O2WSW, ADN · May 22, 2008

Yeah, I have used alcohol wipes with success if really sticky and on sensitive, delicate skin. I was changing the dressing on a PICC line and the pt's skin was coming off with it, so used the alcohol wipe in that case with much luck (more comfortable for the pt too).

Nrsstudent09 · May 22, 2008

I would pull all the sides up around the the IV and then after it is only stuck to the IV pull the IV out.

As a note: My first patient in clinical ever was a cardiac nurse who was in with a broken femur head. She let me remove her IV and she said that removing a tegaderm does not hurt the patient and anyone who screams out is over reacting.

wanderlust99 · May 22, 2008

I don't think it hurts at all. Put it on your hand & see if it hurts you. To me a piece of tape hurts more. :rolleyes:

meandragonbrett · May 22, 2008

I don't think it hurts at all. Put it on your hand & see if it hurts you. To me a piece of tape hurts more.

Just because it doesn't hurt you doesn't mean it doesn't hurt somebody else. If there's hair there, it's GOING to hurt.

bagladyrn, RN · May 22, 2008

Just because it doesn't hurt you doesn't mean it doesn't hurt somebody else. If there's hair there, it's GOING to hurt.

Yes, but in the overall picture, unless talking about a peds pt. or an older pt with extremely fragile skin, it's a pretty minor pain.

I've frequently observed women who are extremely "wussy" about tape/tegaderm removal and then turn out to have "brazilian waxes"! Talk about relative pain levels!