Integumentary: Applying abdominal binders

As a nursing assistant, you may help provide care to clients who are recovering after surgery. These clients often need to have an abdominal binder applied, which is a wide band of elastic or cotton material that fits around the abdomen and does a variety of things.

It helps keep dressings and bandages in place and speed up wound and incision healing; it also supports muscles, relieves pain, promotes deep breathing, and minimizes swelling and fluid buildup.

Now, when applying an abdominal binder to a client, there are some common care tips you need to remember. First of all, it’s important to choose the right size of the abdominal binder for the client, because if it’s too big, it will not be effective and might even slip off.

If it’s too small, it might irritate the skin underneath or cause trouble with breathing or blood flow. If there are any tubes or wound drains, be sure they are not kinked or compressed, so they can drain freely.

Be sure to check under the binder regularly and observe the condition of the skin. Observe the surgical dressings, too.

Also, ensure that the client is comfortable at all times and doesn’t experience any pain, discomfort, or feeling of pressure.

Before applying an abdominal binder to a client, check with the care plan and the nurse to find out the type and size of the binder you should use.

You should also find out if the nurse has any concerns about the client you should know about. You can then gather the supplies you’ll need, including gloves, gauze bandages, and the abdominal binder. Remember to also practice hand hygiene before putting on clean gloves.

Start by raising the bed to a height that’s comfortable to work with. Lock the wheels and lower the bed rail on the side you’ll be working on.

Assist the client into a comfortable supine position with the knees somewhat flexed, and then, help the client roll away from you facing the raised bed rail.

Fold or roll the far ends of the binder toward the midline and place that end on the bed underneath the client. Then, help the client roll over the folded binder.