During the dressing change, which step should follow the removal of the old dressing?

The appropriate step that should follow the removal of the old dressing is to wash hands and put on sterile gloves. This is crucial for maintaining aseptic technique. After removing the old dressing, healthcare providers need to ensure that their hands are clean to prevent any contamination of the wound. Using sterile gloves is essential to protect both the wound from pathogens and the caregiver from exposure to potential infections.

By adhering to this practice, you ensure that the surrounding environment remains sterile, particularly before any further assessments or cleaning of the wound. This foundational step in infection control is vital in wound management and is a key practice in nursing and medical protocols.

While it may also be necessary to assess the wound condition, cleaning the wound, or documenting previous actions as part of the dressing change process, these steps must come after the proper infection control measures have been established by hand hygiene and the use of sterile gloves. Maintaining a clean and safe environment for the wound management process is the priority at this stage.