Compression Bandaging - who does it?

[emmabond]

Dear Members,

At this years SVN Conference a delegate asked one of the speakers Julie Day about who does the compression bandaging in their area. It soon became apparent that this is a large problem for many of us.

Is this a problem for you or do you have clear competencies in your area?

[vascular]

I find that the ward nurses in my trust are very reluctent to do this, even if the patients arterial status has been checked by the vascular team, and documented that compression is prescribed, and they are to be followed up by the vascular team
Many nurses attend leg ulcer courses organised by the tissue viability nurses, which can be 3 full days off the ward,or even a full degree module, but they are still not happy to apply compression. I don't understand why.
If a patient is admitted with a compression bandage on, surely as registered nurses we should be able to continue this treatment, if their arterial status has been checked.
Bed rest is not an option for many patients.
This can be very frustrating, the patient does not get their prescribed treatment, and then the patients' ulcers deteriorate while they are in hospital.
I think that this needs investigating, and would welcome your views, what happens in other hospital?
The NMC states that nurses are accountable for their actions AND omissions.

[Leanne Cook]

Hi

Within our acute and primary care trust anyone who has undertaken training and has been 'deemed' competent can apply compression therapy. Training is delivered in many ways through the leg ulcer clinic, one day course or full university based module. We have a specific competent booklet that covers assessment, bandaging and prevention of re occurrence that the individual can keep with their portfolio (welcome to share this if anyone requires). I think compression bandaging must continue to be competency based and is not a skill that any nurse can simply undertake with out training. I do not feel that is it safe or satisfactory for a nurse with no formal training simply to apply compression because a doctor or another specialist had told them to, it is the nurses duty to continually assess the treatment/progress of a wound and to be able to do this you need to be able to competently assess and not simply just be able to apply a bandage.