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Wound Care

Wound Care

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234 Nurse to Nurse<br />

— Provided is a practitioner’s action, not an outcome.<br />

— Promoted is a process, not an outcome.<br />

• Behavioral terms to use in outcomes:<br />

— Answer, apply, compare, choose, decrease, demonstrated,<br />

describe, explain, increase, participate, prepare, select,<br />

etc. AVOID learn, feel, understand, know, and accept.<br />

CONSIDERATIONS IN ACUTE WOUNDS<br />

• Primary intention:<br />

— Stringent safeguards against infection<br />

— Support client’s immune system<br />

— Some research indicates that wounds closed with the<br />

newer closure tapes develop increased resistance to infection<br />

more quickly and effectively than those sutured or<br />

stapled. Sutures and staples may allow bacteria under the<br />

skin.<br />

Tincture of benzoin placed on the skin and allowed to<br />

dry before application of the cloth strips creates longer<br />

wearing time for the strips. Remember that this tincture<br />

is destructive to fibroblasts and temporarily alters<br />

the pH of the skin to which it is applied. Using a skin<br />

barrier wipe such as 3M No Sting or Kendall Preppies<br />

may accomplish the same outcome without fibroblast<br />

destruction.<br />

— If the wound is sutured or stapled keep it clean and dry<br />

until sutures or staples are removed.<br />

— Dressing purpose is to support healing in a dry, low bacterial<br />

count (all skin has bacteria on it) environment.<br />

Remember: bacteria thrive in warm, dark, and moist<br />

environments so if dressings become moist and wet<br />

they should be changed (not reinforced) immediately.<br />

• At the first encounter educate the client and caregiver that the<br />

purpose of the outpatient or home evaluations is to provide them<br />

support until one of them is able to perform the wound care.

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