Principles & Techniques for Safe Dressing Changes
- Covers:
- Key Principles: Aseptic vs. clean technique, wound bed assessment at each change, maintaining moisture balance.
- Step-by-Step Guide: Hand hygiene, PPE, gentle removal (using saline if adherent), cleansing (gentile irrigation, “clean to dirty”), reassessment, dressing selection/application, disposal.
- Pro Tips: Avoiding “dressing autopilot,” managing difficult adhesives, preventing peri-wound skin damage, recognizing infection signs (redness, heat, swelling, odor, increased pain/drainage).
- Why it’s essential: Dressing changes are frequent, hands-on tasks. Proper technique prevents complications and promotes healing.
