General Nursing (RGN)
Basic Wound Care and Dressing
Assessment and nursing care of wounds using appropriate infection-prevention and dressing principles within the nurse's competence and applicable protocol.
Purpose
- Promote wound healing.
- Protect the wound.
- Reduce contamination and infection risk.
- Assess wound progress.
Indications
- Patients with wounds requiring nursing care.
- Wounds requiring dressing changes.
- Post-operative wounds according to applicable orders and protocols.
Equipment
- Appropriate dressing materials
- Gloves
- Sterile supplies where required
- Waste receptacle
- Cleaning solution according to protocol
- Documentation materials
Procedure steps
- Verify the patient's identity and wound-care plan.
- Explain the procedure and provide privacy.
- Perform hand hygiene and prepare equipment.
- Assess the wound and surrounding skin.
- Remove the existing dressing appropriately.
- Dispose of contaminated materials safely.
- Clean the wound according to the prescribed or approved technique.
- Apply the appropriate dressing.
- Ensure the patient is comfortable.
- Document wound findings, dressing applied and patient response.
Precautions
- Use appropriate infection-prevention measures.
- Avoid unnecessary contamination.
- Use prescribed or approved wound-care products.
- Report signs of infection or deterioration.
- Follow institutional wound-care protocols.
Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.
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