Wound assessment when the bandage change is not due

[EarthwormRN]

I have moved from one facility to another and I am being trained differently than what I have been doing with wounds the last 4 years. I'm not clear on whether or not the nurse I am orienting with is just extra cautious or I too should be assessing sites the same way she does.

I assess the site when the dressing is due to be changed, PRN (strikethrough, pt c/o increased pain, got wet in the shower, erythema noted around dressing, etc) and on admission.

My orienting nurse peels a dressing up and looks at the wound Qshift, and sticks it back down if its not due to be changed. If anything I would assess Qshift, but I'd be more inclined to clean and re-dress because of infection risk.

If a doctor or wound specialist says change Q3days, why expose it to infection every shift? Or change it early when it wasn't needed? I understand an infection could get missed on day two without visually seeing it, but if it does become infected it would start to ooze or the pt will have increased pain. Both of which should be assessed Qshift.

Thanks in advance for any of your input.

[Sour Lemon]

I would assess the dressing "dry and intact" without uncovering the wound. I would only uncover the wound if a dressing change was due or I had reason to believe that there might be a problem.

[oceanblue52]

My understanding of wound care is the dressings are only changed 3x a week because removing the dressing causes the temperature to cool down, which delays the healing process. I would just evaluate the state of the bandage and pain levels at the site.

[loriangel14, RN]

Yep I would just chart the dressing as dry and intact.

[Swellz]

I echo the previous posters and just document the dressing as CDI, assuming it is.

[VANurse2010]

Your coworker needs some education on proper assessment.