Streile Dressing Change
Running head: STERILE DRESSING
Critical Thinking Application with Sterile Dressing Changes
One of the best methods of reducing infection in patients with any type of wound is sterile technique with dressing change. Heavy colonization of infected sites is a risk factor for infections associated with any type of wound but mostly for wounds that penetrate deeper into the skin. Sterile site dressing is advocated to protect the open wound from contamination because it will come in to direct contact with the wound, and sterility is required in order to execute the application of the dressing successfully. The nursing process is an important principle to use when examining, treating, and maintaining any type of wound or applying wound dressings. The five steps: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation are all applied during the process. Critical thinking about the method, the purpose, and understanding why procedural guidelines must be followed is key to keeping your patients safe and free from infection.
The first step of the nursing process is to thoroughly assess your patient. Baseline and continual assessment data provide important information about the client’s skin integrity, mobility, nutritional status, and wound condition. Nurses must carefully examine the wound stability, its appearance, drainage, and the patient’s pain level. It is essential to identify what makes the dressing change more stressful for patients, if there is constant background pain and what helps in reducing the pain patients may have experienced during previous dressing changes (Hollinworth, 2005). The nurse should inspect the surface of the skin, inspect the wound for any signs of healing or worsening, and also obtain client’s temperature, heart rate, and white blood cells count to see if there is any infection.
The next step is to use the assessment data gathered to indicate an actual or risk diagnosis that will direct supportive and preventative care.
Critical Thinking Application with Sterile Dressing Changes
One of the best methods of reducing infection in patients with any type of wound is sterile technique with dressing change. Heavy colonization of infected sites is a risk factor for infections associated with any type of wound but mostly for wounds that penetrate deeper into the skin. Sterile site dressing is advocated to protect the open wound from contamination because it will come in to direct contact with the wound, and sterility is required in order to execute the application of the dressing successfully. The nursing process is an important principle to use when examining, treating, and maintaining any type of wound or applying wound dressings. The five steps: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation are all applied during the process. Critical thinking about the method, the purpose, and understanding why procedural guidelines must be followed is key to keeping your patients safe and free from infection.
The first step of the nursing process is to thoroughly assess your patient. Baseline and continual assessment data provide important information about the client’s skin integrity, mobility, nutritional status, and wound condition. Nurses must carefully examine the wound stability, its appearance, drainage, and the patient’s pain level. It is essential to identify what makes the dressing change more stressful for patients, if there is constant background pain and what helps in reducing the pain patients may have experienced during previous dressing changes (Hollinworth, 2005). The nurse should inspect the surface of the skin, inspect the wound for any signs of healing or worsening, and also obtain client’s temperature, heart rate, and white blood cells count to see if there is any infection.
The next step is to use the assessment data gathered to indicate an actual or risk diagnosis that will direct supportive and preventative care.
References: Bouchard, M. (2005). Sideline care of abrasions and lacerations: preparation is key. Physician & Sports Medicine, 33(2), 21-29. Hollinworth, H. (2005). The management of patients’ pain in wound care. Nursing Standard, 20(7), 65-73.