#ospitalTips

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Ask the Nurse: Hospital Tips

Each month, debra of America’s “Ask the Nurse” series will highlight a commonly asked question received by our Nurse Educator, Emily Griffith, BSN, RN. This month’s post focuses on Hospital Tips. Let’s get started!

Question: When I go to the hospital, the EKG stickers always cause blisters or pull my skin off. How can I avoid this from happening?

Answer: The adhesive portion of the EKG leads are not necessary for the leads to work; it is simply there to adhere to the skin. In EB, we need to modify the way the EKG leads adhere to the skin if they are necessary for your care. You can cut off, or sometimes peel off, the adhesive backing on the EKG sticker. If there is remaining adhesive that feels like this will cause trauma, press the sticker onto a blanket or sheet over and over to make the backing less adhesive. Next, place the EKG leads in the appropriate locations and secure in place with EB-friendly tape or bandages such as Mepitac, Mepiform, or another Mepilex product available.   Similar steps can be taken for the pulse oximeter such as cutting off the adhesive portion or pressing repeatedly against a blanket to remove adhesive. However, a pulse oximeter will read through some Mepilex products unlike the EKG leads. You can place Mepitac on the finger or toe first to protect the skin, then secure the pulse oximeter overtop the Mepitac so it is not directly touching the skin.

Click here for our Hospital Care Tip Sheet for more tips on EB precautions in the hospital setting and share with your healthcare providers.

To read more commonly asked questions, click here.

If you have an EB care-related question for our EB Nurse Educator, please email: nurse@debra.org or call toll-free at 866-DEBRA-76 (866-332-7276).

*The information provided herein is intended to educate the reader about certain medical conditions and certain possible treatments. It is not a substitute for examination, diagnosis, and medical care provided by a licensed and qualified health professional. If you believe you, your child, or someone you know, suffer from conditions described herein, please see your healthcare provider. Do not attempt to treat yourself, your child, or anyone else without proper medical supervision.