WOUND CARE WITH MEPILEX BORDER ™

FOR RESIDENTS WHO CAN BE SHOWERED ©

Skin tears, lower limb ulcers and pressure ulcers are the most common wounds suffered by residents in nursing homes. If the resident can be showered you can save time and money by following these simple steps when a new wound dressing is required. Showering is safe for most of these residents with wounds. If there is any doubt about:

Your local water supply or

The resident is immuno-suppressed

The wound is a cavity, sinus or fistula or

You cannot see the base of the wound then

use a sterile solution e.g. saline or water.

It is better to be safe and no harm can be done with a sterile solution.

Procedure

  1. Keep Mepilex Border ™ dressings and alcohol hand rub close by.
  2. Shampoo and wash the resident (apart from the wound area).
  3. Wrap in towels and dry the resident.
  4. Keep the resident warm.
  5. Wearing a glove(s), remove the old dressing.
  6. Remove glove(s), turning inside out, enclosing the dirty dressing.
  7. Dispose of gloves and dressing.
  8. Alcohol rub your hands.
  9. Shower the wound (or use warm normal saline or sterile water).
  10. Don gloves and dry the skin surrounding the wound with clean gauze.
  11. Dispose of gloves and gauze.
  12. Alcohol rub your hands.
  13. Apply the Mepilex Border ™ dressing without stretching the border.
  14. Press gently into place and date.
  15. Alcohol rub your hands.
  16. Document on wound chart and notes.[¶]
  17. If the resident has more than one wound, number them on the wound chart and refer to them by number as well as site, in the wound care progress notes / progress notes eg.

‘1. Skin tear, Category 3, left forearm.’

‘2. Pressure ulcer, Stage 2, left heel.’

  1. Check every day --- check that there is no leakage from the dressing.
  2. Document that you have checked every wound on every resident, every day.
  3. If there is no documentation it may be assumed that it has not been done.
  4. Remember that many residents have more than one leg ulcer and more than one skin tear. There may be wounds on all four limbs, upper and lower.
  5. For those residents with fragile skin consider the use of limb protectors. These act not only as protection against skin tears but they help to retain dressings.
  6. As a general rule the Mepilex Border ™ dressing can remain in place for seven days. 
  7. When the dressings require changing follow the same instructions for showering and apply a new Mepilex Border ™ if the wound has not healed.

 See your facility’s Excel spreadsheet for the difference in cost between daily traditional dressings and weekly Mepilex Border™. Or log on to the FREE website.

[¶] Follow your facility’s policy for documentation.

 Always read the manufacturers instructions.