Wound Care

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I had my wound care check off and I have to retake it due to the fact that I broke sterile field. My instructor told me that part of my lab coat entered into the field, thus contaminating it. I didn't realize it had happened when I was performing the skill. Does anyone have any tricks to keeping this from happening again? She said that I did everything else perfectly but obviously, I can't contaminate the field.

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Don't wear a lab coat next time.

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I have to wear one.

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Roll your sleeves up

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I have to wear one.

Why? Can't you take it off for the procedure that put it back on? I frequently remove my jacket for a procedure and put it back on.

What part of the jacket touched?

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Don't sweat it.. this happened to a girl in my group too. Just be conscious of your body and garments and break a leg!!! I hate those sterile fields..lol!

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roll up your sleeves and button it up.

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Huh....we just learned wound care and they said that the latest protocol is that wound care is NOT a sterile technique. Just aseptic

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Specializes in Hospice, Geriatrics, Wounds.

Certain wound care is sterile....for example post op wounds....

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

Ask if you can remove the coat for the procedure. I don't wear anything that isn't well-fitting when I'm doing sterile procedures. If you really have to wear one, tuck part of the coat into the waist band of your pants so that it stays close to your body. And roll up your sleeves.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I would definitely push to not have the coat on while performing the sterile technique. I would never wear a loose fitting coat if I were trying to control my field.

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Huh....we just learned wound care and they said that the latest protocol is that wound care is NOT a sterile technique. Just aseptic

Huh, aseptic is sterile. Some wounds can be dressed clean, but not all.

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