Question

Home health nurse is providing teaching to patient who has stage one pressure ulcer on the greater trochanter of his left hip. Which of the following instruction should the nurse include in teaching?

A. Clean wound daily with antiseptic
B. Use donut shaped pillow when sitting in a chair
C. change position every hour
D. Massage area two times daily

Answer 1

To care for a stage one pressure ulcer, clean the area with a gentle cleanser, refrain from using a donut-shaped pillow, change positions every two hours, and avoid massaging the ulcer area.

Step-by-step explanation:

When caring for a patient with a stage one pressure ulcer, it is essential to include instructions that will aid in healing and prevent further injury. One important piece of teaching is to clean the wound daily, but not with antiseptics which can be harsh on skin and damage granulating tissue. Instead, a gentle cleanser or saline solution should be used. The second essential point is to avoid using donut-shaped pillows as they can actually create more pressure around the edges of the ulcer. The most recommended practice is for the patient to change their position every two hours, not hourly, to alleviate pressure on the affected area. Lastly, the nurse should instruct against massaging the ulcer or the immediate surrounding area as massage can cause further damage to fragile tissue and potentially increase the risk of infection.