by Cathy Milne APRN, MSN, BC-ANP/CS, CWOCN Lisa Corbett APRN, MSN, BC-CS, CWOCN
It seems as if there are many idioms out there related to moisture. Most are not flattering, such as “Mad as a wet hen”. “Wet behind the ears” infers inexperience - much like a child who has not gained the neurophysiological mechanisms to gain continence.
Recently, I attended the WOCN Mid-Atlantic Regional conference. There, a nurse attorney discussed strategies to limit liability and improve patient care. The Maryland Patient Safety Law requires that hospitals report all Level I events to the state Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ). The penalties for failing to meet these requirements can include revocation of the hospital’s license or a fine of $500 per day.
We live in an evidence-based, evidence-seeking world. We want numbers and data for everything. But in the real world we live in, day to day with our patients, what do we use for evidence?
Skin protectants and moisture barrier products serve two purposes in patient care: first is to protect the skin from harmful stimuli (incontinence, wound drainage, saliva, gastric juices, etc.); second is to create a barrier between the skin and the environment. It is amazing that one product and basically one classification of ingredient can get the job done!
Looking for a moisturizer? Look no further than the faucet! Did you know that water is the ONLY moisturizing ingredient? It’s true. All of the other ingredients in popular skin and wound care moisturizers are simply to keep the water where we want it to be on our patient’s skin.
When selecting a moisturizing product for a patient’s condition, check the ingredients for agents that serve as humectants. This type of ingredient attracts, holds, and binds moisture to the skin.
Cleansers for skin and wound care have always been a topic of much discussion. How and why do we use skin cleansers? What are the differences between skin cleansers and soap? Can you use a skin cleanser in a wound? Why not? What should you use for wound cleansing?
In the late 1800s the government saw the potential danger that “snake oil” salesmen posed to society. Potions and elixirs were said to calm women prone to hysteria during the pre-menstrual cycle or cure headaches. Some of the most dangerous elixirs claimed to calm colicky babies and irritable children. These potions and elixirs were formulated with water, alcohol, and in some cases, poisons like toxic herbal extracts and tar.
