What it means
Dressings protect a wound from germs and injury, soak up drainage and keep the wound bed moist but not wet. Common types are gauze, transparent film, foam, hydrocolloid and alginate; the choice depends on how much the wound drains. A primary dressing touches the wound; a secondary dressing covers it and holds it in place.
For the nurse
At each change, look at the wound and the drainage (amount, color, odor) and compare with the last note. Label the new dressing with the date, time and your initials. Use clean or sterile technique as ordered, and report spreading redness, warmth, pus or a foul smell.
At a glance
| Spanish | apósito |
|---|---|
| Also written | dressings |
Related terms
laceration
A cut or tear in the skin or other tissue, often with jagged edges.
suture
A stitch, or the thread used to stitch, that holds the edges of a wound or incision together.
wound care
The cleaning, protecting and dressing of a wound to help it heal and to prevent infection.
eschar
Thick, dry, dark dead tissue that covers part or all of a wound.
granulation tissue
New, moist, red tissue that fills a healing wound from the bottom up.