Wound care and worry about washing

Setting: A community home visit

A patient discharged after a minor procedure has written wound-care instructions. The dressing is intact. The patient has avoided washing because they fear damaging the wound.

Task

Explore what the patient understands and has avoided.
Acknowledge fear of causing harm.
Work through the supplied instructions in small sections.
Check the patient can identify the next action and contact route.

Fictional discharge washing and dressing sheet

For this fictional patient, the treating team has instructed washing the rest of the body with a flannel while keeping the dressing dry; do not soak the wound.
Leave the current dressing in place until the planned nurse review tomorrow.
If the dressing becomes wet or loose, contact the community nursing team using the number printed on the appointment card; do not improvise a replacement routine.
For a new or worsening clinical concern, use the urgent contact route printed on the discharge card.
The patient can contact the community nursing team about unclear instructions; asking for clarification is welcome.

Fictional scenario information supplied by the treating team; not medical guidance for real patients.