Long Term Care Wounds

Step 1: Gather Appropriate Supplies: According to the doctor's orders and guidelines, specific to the patient and location. Examples include: sterile or non sterile gloves according to agency policy, wound cleansing solution, sterile saline can be used as well, and sterile gauze.  Step 2:  Perform Safety Steps (Hand Hygiene, wearing gloves, performing proper infection control technique Step 3. Remove Old Wound Dressing Step 4: Assess Wound Step 5: Clean the Wound Step 6: Pack the Wound Step 7: Apply New Dressing Step 8: Perform Safety Measures (Hand Hygiene, put patient call bell within reach and side rails up) Step 9: Adhere to Patient Needs and Document                                                                                             ...

Pressure ulcers can be prevented by repositioning, through repositioning you can prevent skin breakdown and the development of bedsores ( Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, 2016) . Additionally, other strategies include maintaining good nutrition, exercising, having a good fluid intake, and taking care of the skin so it is not dry ( Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020) . For Repositioning: Ask for help with repositioning constantly-approximately once every hour ( Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020) . Moving by lifting or shifting weight- this is done to avoid putting excessive amounts of pressure on one side ( Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020) . Adjust the elevation of the head of the bed- If you raise the head of the bed so that it is elevated, however not more than 30 degrees it will aid in preventing shearing ( Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020) .  For Skin Care: Keep Skin Clean and Dry- Washing the skin with a gentle cleanser and patting to dry ( Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020) Protect Skin- With barrier creams, or ot...