What are four nursing considerations when applying transdermal patches?

Author: Price Swaniawski  |  Last update: Saturday, March 29, 2025

Before applying a new patch, the old patch should be removed, the skin around the old patch should be assessed, and the site for the patch cleansed and dried thoroughly. The skin around the patch should be monitored for any irritation or reaction to the medication or patch adhesive.

What nursing considerations are involved with transdermal patches?

Administration
  • Proper disinfecting and cleaning of skin where the patch is applied.
  • Application of patch in the desired area.
  • A follow-up appointment to ensure that the patient experiences no adverse skin reactions.
  • Proper adherence to the guidelines of the transdermal patch for future use.

When administering a transdermal patch, what must the nurse do?

To properly administer a transdermal patch, a nurse should cleanse the skin with alcohol, apply the patch to a hairless area, press it firmly for adhesion, and rotate the application site to prevent irritation. These steps are crucial for effective medication delivery and skin safety.

What are the three important things to do when applying transdermal patches?

In summary, you can achieve transdermal patch greatest effectiveness if you: guarantee adherence, perform a correct hygiene of the area, being constant in the application and avoiding heat sources. These general recommendations added to the medical indications will be the key to an effective treatment.

What are nursing considerations patient teaching for the nicotine transdermal patch?

Nursing Considerations: Nicotine is a hazardous drug; use safe handling and disposal precautions. Apply one new patch every 24 hours on skin that is dry, clean, and hairless. Remove backing from patch and immediately press onto skin. Hold for 10 seconds.

How to Apply & Remove Transdermal Patch (Fentanyl) | Medication Administration for Nursing Students

What is the nurse's responsibility when administering a transdermal patch to a client?

When applying a new patch, the nurse should remove the clear plastic backing and take care to not touch the medication surface of the patch while placing it on the patient's skin. Patches should be placed on an appropriate skin area per manufacturer guidelines, such as the upper arms or on the chest.

What are the special considerations listed when applying a nicotine patch?

Usual places to put the patch are the upper chest, upper arm, shoulder, back, or inner arm. Avoid putting the patch on areas of irritated, oily, scarred, or damaged skin. Remove the patch from the foil package, peel off the protective strips, and immediately apply the patch to your skin.

When applying patches to a customer, what must you do?

The process of applying a patch
  1. always wear a glove.
  2. clean the skin if needed with water only and make sure the skin's dry (soap products can alter absorption)
  3. remove any old patch or patches, dispose of safely before applying the new one and rotate the site of application.

Which is not considered when applying a transdermal patch?

Staff should not:

Expose the application site to oils, creamy soaps or moisturisers. This may cause irritation or cause allergic reactions when the patch is applied. It may also prevent the patch from sticking to the skin. Shave the hair as this may irritate the skin.

What is the most common side effect of transdermal patches?

What side effects can this medication cause?
  • pain, burning, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet.
  • dry mouth.
  • stomach pain.
  • indigestion.
  • back pain.
  • difficulty urinating.
  • itching.
  • skin irritation, redness, itching, or swelling in the area where you wore the patch.

What are the massage considerations for the client who wears a transdermal patch?

If your client wears a medication patch, avoid massaging the area around the patch, and do not remove or move the patch at any time.

Why should the nurse carefully assess the patient's skin to ensure the previous transdermal patch has been removed?

Before applying a transdermal patch, remove the old patch if it is still in place. Clean area thoroughly. Observe for signs of skin irritation at old patch and document as per agency policy. Not removing previous patch may result in overdose of the medication.

When assisting the resident with a transdermal patch, it is important to?

When assisting a resident to apply a transdermal patch, one should first ensure to remove the old patch as ordered. This is essential to prevent possible drug overdose, skin irritation, or undesired side effects. Next, cleaning the area where the patch will be applied is critical.

How to apply the patch?

Use your fingernail to lift one corner of the contraceptive patch. Peel the patch and the plastic liner away from the pouch, then peel away half of the protective clear lining. Be careful not to cut, alter or damage the patch. Apply the sticky surface of the patch to your skin and remove the rest of the liner.

How is a nurse teaching a client about the proper placement of nitroglycerin patch?

Apply the patch to clean, dry, hairless skin that is not irritated, scarred, burned, broken, or calloused. Choose a different area each day. You may shower while you are wearing a nitroglycerin skin patch.

What factors are considered when designing a transdermal patch?

Elements that Affect a Transdermal Patch's Ability to Administer Medicine
  • THE PATIENT. Let's start with where the patch is going — on a living, breathing, and complex human being. ...
  • SHELF LIFE. Adhesive shelf life can be vital to product performance. ...
  • ADHESIVE TYPE. ...
  • BACKING LINER. ...
  • OUTER LAYER. ...
  • OVERALL PATCH SIZE.

When administering the transdermal patch, what is incorrect?

An error in the administration technique of a transdermal patch is failing to clean and dry the application site properly before applying the patch. When administering a transdermal patch, it's essential to ensure that the site of application on the skin is clean and dried thoroughly.

Who should not use transdermal patches?

The Duragesic® skin patch should not be used if you need pain medicine for just a short time, such as after dental surgery or tonsil surgery. Do not use the patch for mild pain or pain that occurs only once in a while. Fentanyl is a strong opioid analgesic (pain medicine).

What are 3 best practices for complying with patch security?

4 Best Practices for Patch Management
  • Apply Patches as Soon as Possible. Rapidly applying patches is a deceptively simple task. ...
  • Ensure You've Applied Patches Properly. ...
  • Be Proactive in the Patching Process. ...
  • Know When to Upgrade.

How do you treat skin irritation from transdermal patches?

Irritant contact dermatitis is relatively common and can be reduced and treated by alternating patch application sites, moisturizing, gentle skin care, and application of topical corticosteroids at the previous patch sites if needed.

What are the nursing considerations for nicotine patches?

Nursing Considerations: Nicotine is a hazardous drug; use safe handling and disposal precautions. Apply one new patch every 24 hours on skin that is dry, clean, and hairless. Remove backing from patch and immediately press onto skin.

What precautions should you take when using nicotine patches?

Dispose of it safely, out of the reach of children and pets. After removing the used patch, apply the next patch to a different skin area to prevent skin irritation. Never wear two patches at once. A switch to a lower strength patch may be considered after the first 2 weeks on the medication.

What are the contraindications for transdermal nicotine?

Before using consider the following
  • Heart disease, recent heart attack, or irregular heartbeat; nicotine can increase heart rate.
  • High blood pressure not controlled with medication; nicotine can increase blood pressure.
  • An allergy to adhesive tape or have skin problems because you are more likely to get rashes.
  • Diabetes.

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