Question

Describe the significance when a RN needs to be sterile vs. clean during a wet-to dry dressing change.

Answer 1

The RN needs to be sterile during wet to dry dressing change most of the time when patient is in hospital or nursing home. He/she would insist on using sterile technique for all dressings to avoid nossocomial or hospital born chances of infections.

On the other hand in normal at home clean dressing is utilized.

Furthermore sterile technique is usually preferred by RN at the time of dressing when patients are at high risk for infection

Moreover sterile technique is preferred in case of Central line & Perm-cath dressing.

Thus the type of dressing is selected by the RN as an when best required in indivisual case.