Which type of dressing should the nurse apply until a wound specialist can be contacted?

There are certain types of wound dressings that a nurse can apply to a wound on a patient. One is called occlusive which is usually made out of some kind of plastic. It stretches over the wound in order for air not to seep in. The compress is a thick bandage usually applied to a bleeding wound. The trauma dressing is a large sterile dressing and it is used to cover a big wound.

Smaller wounds can be bandaged with adhesive strips like Band-aids. Usually a wound specialist would know exactly which bandage to put on the wound due to the size and the type of wound it is. A moist clean saline gauze and bandage would be needed if there is an open wound with tissue.

Dressings are a sterile pad or compress applied to a wound to facilitate healing and protect the wound from more harm. A dressing is designed to contact the wound directly, as distinguished from the bandage, which is often used to hold a dressing in place. Many modern dressings are self-adhesive.

A dressing can have many purposes, depending upon the type, severity, and position of the wound. Bandages protect wounds from further harm or infection. It promotes healing by providing a sterile, breathable, and moist environment that reduces the risk of infection, help the wound heal quickly, and minimize scarring.

Moist sterile saline gauze-rationale: moist sterile saline dressings support wound healing and are cost-effective. dry sterile dressings adhere to the wound and debride the tissue when removed. petroleum supports healing but is expensive. povidone-iodine is used as an antiseptic cleaning agent but because it can irritate epithelial cells, it shouldnt be left on an open wound.client needs category: safe, effective care environmentclient needs subcategory: safety and infection controlcognitive level: applicationreference: smeltzer, s.c., and bare, b. brunner & suddarths textbook of medical surgical-nursing, 11th ed. philadelphia: lippincott williams & wilkins, 2008, p. 1947.