A simple dressing change is differentiated by the size (and depth) of the wound and the complexity of the treatment or procedure.
This is a clean procedure; not a sterile one. A band aid is one type of simple dressing. But others include large band aids and even small gauze dressings over a clean wound.
First gather your supplies in one area. This should be a clean spot with good lighting where it is easy to work. You could use a paper towel to set your supplies down on. Be sure you have a small plastic or paper bag to place the old dressing and discarded wrappers and gloves into.
- Wash your hands. Wash for at least 30 seconds and use friction. Scrub your fingers, under fingernails, the backs of your hands and your wrists. Rinse in a downwards stream from your wrists to your finger tips. Dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel or paper toweling. (See handwashing.)
- Don (put on) non-sterile gloves. You will do this to protect yourself and avoid contact with bodily fluids.
- Remove the old dressing. If it is stuck, you can moisten it with some warm water or a saline solution. Try to push the skin away from the adhesive instead of pulling on the tape. This will minimize pain from ripping off adhesive tape.
- Observe the wound for redness, bleeding, any kind of drainage or dried blood, and any odor. Is the surrounding skin red and hot? Redness surrounding the wound or streaking away from it as well as any odor can be signs of infection and should be reported to your health care practitioner.
- Gently clean the wound with soap and water and rinse well. You could also use a saline solution or wound cleanser. Use a clean wash cloth or gauze pads to clean and rinse with. Don't scrub unless you have been directed to do so.
- Pat dry with a gauze pad, or dry toweling. Look at the wound again.
- Remove the gloves, wash your hands again and put on clean gloves.
- If you're going to use any ointment or wound cream, use a small amount and apply it only to the open area and not to the surrounding skin. Use a Qtip or clean gauze pad to apply the ointment. Apply the ointment or cream to the Qtip or gauze. Never squeeze from the tube directly into a wound. You can contaminate your ointment this way, or contaminate the wound.
- Cover the wound with a bandage or gauze pad large enough to cover the wound and enough surrounding skin that protects the wound from being soiled. Keep the dressing clean and dry. If it gets wet or soiled, change it again. Dressings should be changed at least once a day.
- Remove your gloves and wrap all of your trash in the small bag. Take it out to your trash receptacle if possible.
- Wash your hands again!
Tips:
If you keep removing a scab and causing the wound to reopen and bleed each time you change the dressing, it may be time to leave the wound uncovered, or you should soak the dressing before removing it.
Apply just enough tape to hold the gauze in place and try to rotate tape placement each time. For instance, tape the top and bottom (opposite) sides of gauze one day and the two sides the next time. (Like a picture frame.)
Use a gauze wrap (Kling or Kerlex) or stretchy non-adhesive tape (Coban) to hold a dressing in place if possible to avoid tape burns or damage to delicate skin.
See your health care practitioner if the wound doesn't heal in a timely manner, develops redness, hot spots, or streaking. If the wound was caused from an animal bite or scratch; or a rusty or very dirty item, you should also contact your health care practitioner.
