Superficial skin tear on coccyx/buttock

Published

Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.

I am no wound nurse by any stretch of the imagination, but our protocol says to use a "colloid dressing". And the nursing home that I visit(I'm a Hospice nurse), hates any dressings on these, and pretty much refused to do that, so we ended up putting a cream BID and PRN. Patient is not incontinent, but is end stage COPD, ambulatory with a walker, and has a APP bed, and an egg crate pad in her wheel chair.

What do you recommend? Patient is stating that this is the number one source of pain right now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

For something that is causing significant pain, my question would be is the wound infected? Also, if it is on the patient's buttock I would use an offloading type of dressing, maybe like Tielle light border, mepilex border, duoderm, or even hydrophillic foam with a border dressing over it to cushion it. I think it is a little silly for the nursing home to not want a wound dressed, even if it is covered with something not medicated and non adherent just to protect/potentially lower bioburden. And also, if it makes the patient feel better to place a dressing on it, they're hospice for goodness sake, do what you do best and comfort the patient :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.

Do you avoid putting a dressing on it, if they are incontinent?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion