The nurse changing a wet-to-damp normal saline dressing for a patient with an ulcer on the heel finds that the old dressing is stuck to the wound bed. The nurse's most beneficial intervention would be to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the dressing sticks to the wound, normal saline should be added to loosen it. Pulling loose a stuck dressing damages new tissue. Leaving it in place does not promote a clean wound. Povidone-iodine must be ordered.

The Nurse Changing a Wet-To-Damp Normal Saline Dressing for a Patient