Today is our topic of discussion Types of Dressing.
Types of Dressing
TYPES OF DRESSING
Dry dressing: Clean wounds are dressed by the application of 4 to 8 layers of gauze folded into suitable size and shape. The surrounding of the wound is cleansed by some antiseptic and dried and dry dressing is applied after the application of medicine to the wound
Wet dressing: It is used if wounds are infected and if there is pus. The wet dressing compresses the hot, it stimulated the supportive process. The dressing is made of many layers of gauze or cotton pad covered with gauze
Pressure dressing: It is done when there is bleeding or oozing from the wound. The dressing consists thick pad of sterile gauze applied over the wound with a firm bandage and binder.
General Instructions
- Maintain aseptic technique to prevent cross infection to the wound and to the ward All the material touching the wound should be sterile.
- Wash hands before and after each dressing top avoid cross infection.
- All articles should be disinfected thoroughly, so that they will be free from pathogens.
- Use masks, sterile gloves and gown for large dressing to minimize the wound contamination.
- Dressing is changed at least 15 minutes after the room has been cleaned and avoid meal timings
- Clean wound should be dressed before infected or discharging wounds.
- Wounds that are draining freely should be dressed frequently, according to the doctor’s order.
- Avoid coughing, sneezing and talking when the wound is opened.
- While dressing avoid contamination with patients skin..
- Clothing and bed linen with soiled instruments and dressings.
- Clean the wound from cleanest area to the less clean area, eg, clean the wound from its center to the periphery.
- If the dressings are adherent to the wound due to drying of the secretions or blood, wet it with normal saline before it is removed from the wound.
- While dressing, keep the wound edges as near as possible to promote healing.
- Measure the amount of discharge from the wound.
- Note the color, amount and consistency of the drainage.
- Before doing the dressing, inspect the wound for any complication and if it is present, report immediately to avoid further complications.
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT
- Check the doctor’s order for specific instructions
- Identify the correct patient, bed number and general condition
- Check the nurse’s record to note the condition of the wound in previous dressing
- Check the abilities of the patient for self-help understanding and limitation
- Check the availabilities of the articles.
EQUIPMENT
- A sterile tray containing:
- Artery forceps: 1
- Dissecting forceps: 2
- Scissors: 1
- Sinus forceps: 1
- Probe: 1
- Small bowl: 1
- Safety Pin: 1
Gloves, masks and gowns, cotton balls, gauze pieces, cotton pads and site or dressing towels.
A trolley containing: Cleaning solutions as necessary, ointments and powders as ordered, Vaseline gauze in sterile containers, roller gauze in sterile container, chittle forceps in a solution, sterile gauze, cotton and pad drum, bandages, adhesive plaster, pins and scissors, mackintosh and draw sheet, kidney tray and covered bucket to put soiled dressing.