Title: Assist with wound care.
Course: Patient Care Technician (14051-III) > Section: Understanding Wound and Ostomy Care

Assistance should include

- sterile vs. clean wound care
- saline wet to dry wound care
- observation of the wound
  - sight
  - smell
  - palpation for appearance, drainage, and pain
- reinforcing dressings
- measuring wounds
- staging pressure ulcers
- signs and symptoms of infection
- identification of various wound types
- response to wound complications (e.g., foul odor, purulent drainage, changes to color of drainage)
- identifying potential problems with the peri wound area
- emptying and measuring wound drains
- reporting to the nurse.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What are methods for preventing skin breakdown?
- What is serosanguinous drainage?
- Who should receive the report of drainage from a wound?
- How does one measure the drainage on a dressing?
- What should a PCT document?
- What are the different stages of pressure ulcers?