Use of photography for complicated bedside dressing applications: How to allow the bedside nurse the ability to care for the complex wound and ostomy patient when the CWOCNŽ is not available

Background: As the only CWOCN® available in the LTAC (Long-Term Acute Care Hospital) hospital caring for the chronically complex medical patients, this required that I devise a way to allow the bedside nurse to manage the complex patient when I was not available. The use of digital photography and PowerPoint accomplished this goal. Photographing step by step directions of the complex dressing technique and providing color pictures in a printed format to be kept at the bedside allowed the bedside nurse to complete the dressing exactly as ordered. These printed directions and photographs are also helpful upon patient discharge to maintain consistency of care.

Outcomes: The use of photography has allowed the bedside nurse to care and manage the complex wound and ostomy patient autonomously and maintain the same patient outcomes as the CWOCN®. This technique has advanced the knowledge and skill level of the bedside nurse and achieved positive patient outcomes.