Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Dressings and Cleaning Wounds


A student at the University of Delaware, Sophia Eick has served as School of Nursing Curriculum Committee representative while working toward her nursing degree. One of the foundational skills Sophia Eick holds centers on cleaning and dressing wounds.

Even when adequately dressed, old wounds require a regular fresh covering. When removing the old dressing, always wash your hands and wear gloves. Assess the injury through a visual check and evaluation of elements such as blood, ooze, smell, color, and wound size.

If healing has not progressed as expected, notify a senior nurse or physician so that further assessment can be taken and the care plan is revised. If the recovery is moving as expected, replace the old dressing with a new one of an appropriate size and material.

This requires care, as the patient’s skin is often highly tender, and delicate sutures may be in place. In ensuring that new dressings are correctly placed, The goal is to avoid pain or aggravate the wound site and prevent dirt and ooze buildup.

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