Starting early gives patients and their caregivers time to prepare. In
the lead up to surgery, give them homework to watch videos about
changing dressings and cleaning wounds. The ACS has created a
home skill tool kit (osmag.net/p8DVdQ) and a step-by-step checklist
(osmag.net/BWNfp9) that helps caregivers assess their skills.
Having this pre-op practice time leads to fewer surgical site infec-
tions and hospital admissions, says Ms. Strand. It gives caregivers
confidence when it's their time to shine after surgery.
"If you can give this [confidence] to them before the patient has the
procedure, that's the ideal world," says Ms. Strand.
3. Dressing decisions
Not all dressings are created equal. In fact, there are thousands of
options from which to choose. Sometimes, patients will need a combi-
nation of products, and your patients will look to you for help picking
the supplies from the pharmacy or medical equipment store.
The dressings serve different purposes to help heal a wound, says
Dr. Gallagher. A foam-based dressing will absorb a heavily draining
wound. Silver, which is known to have antimicrobial properties, and
antibacterial dressings are designed to ward off infection. Some
advanced wound dressings can stay on for 3 to 7 days.
Give your patients specific instructions about when they're due for a
dressing change and the supplies they'll need, says Dr. Gallagher.
Some make the mistake of doing a daily change when their advanced
wound dressing can actually stay on longer. Every time a dressing is
removed, notes Dr. Gallagher, it takes the wound about 4 hours to get
back to the ideal temperature for healing.
"The idea is to keep a perfectly moist environment, not to be too
wet and not to be too dry," says Dr. Gallagher.
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