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CHAPTER 32 Skin Integrity & Wound Healing
Evaluation ■ Be sure the bandage is firmly wrapped without being too tight. ■ Check the circulation is not compromised to the area distal of the bandage. ■ Evaluate for numbness or pain around or distal to the ban- daged area. Patient Teaching ■ Teach the patient about the expected healing process. ■ Inform the patient and caregiver about signs and symptoms of infection and the need to report these findings.
■ Instruct the patient and family about signs of circulation problems and how to remove the bandage if needed.
Home Care ■ Refer the patient to a home health agency for wound care. ■ Some patients or caregivers may be able to perform dress- ing changes. Determine the patient and/or caregiver’s abil- ity to perform dressing changes; teach and demonstrate as needed.
Documentation Many agencies use wound care flow sheets.
Sample EHR Documentation
Thinking About the Procedure
Practice Resources Bryant & Nix (2023,April); Le Badour et al. (2019).
The video Applying Bandages, along with questions and suggested responses, is available on the Davis’s Nursing Skills Videos Web site on FADavis.com.
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