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Alma Kooistra
Sterile gauze vs cotton ball at site

Our current policy for DC'ing a peripheral IV site says we will cover the opening in the skin with sterile gauze and tape post removal.  There is poor compliance with this policy and most staff are opting to use a cotton ball instead of gauze.  We'd like to push compliance with the sterile gauze but have come up dry while looking for references.  Am looking for references and current practice, please.

Thanks much!!!

Alma Kooistra RN CRNI

lynncrni
Is your basic concern

Is your basic concern because the cotton ball would not be sterile and the gauze is? If so, remember that the skin is never sterile, so I would not be so concerned about fighting this battle. I would just be happy if they are using a dry material rather than a wet alcohol pad which causes pain and slows the clotting.  

 

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI

www.hadawayassociates.com

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI

Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.

PO Box 10

Milner, GA 30257

Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com

Office Phone 770-358-7861

Alma Kooistra
Thanks, Lynn.  That's what

Thanks, Lynn.

 That's what I thought too.

Actually my main concern was to have staff fall into compliance with policy and I wasn't sure if we needed to change practice or change policy.

One of the nurses who brought this to my attention said the mandate to use sterile gauze came from our lab manager who said he had information something about fibers from cotton balls getting into the wound and causing problems.  I asked the nurse to contact the lab manager to see what his references were for this.

Have you ever heard of anything like that?

 Thanks!

Alma Kooistra RN CRNI

lynncrni
No, never heard or read

No, never heard or read anything about cotton fibers causing problems at a venipuncture site. Sorry.  

 

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI

www.hadawayassociates.com

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI

Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.

PO Box 10

Milner, GA 30257

Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com

Office Phone 770-358-7861

Alma Kooistra
Well there you go........it
Well there you go........it probably isn't true.  I think we need to rewrite our policy.  Thanks, Lynn.
Alma Kooistra RN CRNI
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