Global focus: MASD

Continence Assessment and Options for Incontinence Care  

Author: Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
 

Not very long ago, when working in an in-patient rehab center, I was shocked to discover patients calling the adult incontinence garments "hospital underwear." We were making good inroads into reducing the use of these products with the hope that if we used less it would be possible to acquire higher-quality products that would function optimally for patients who really needed them. It was of concern that some facilities had become diaper-free because many of our patients benefited from briefs, particularly as a "just in case security blanket" and we felt it was unrealistic for our patient population to be brief-free. From the patients' perspective, they have a right to maintain their dignity and body-worn absorbent products help to achieve this. From a nurse's point of view, these products can be thought of as time savers and laundry savers but also skin destroyers.