Nursing & Healthcare Programs

Applying Elastic Support Hose

Written by Hollie Finders, RN
Hollie Finders is a registered nurse with years of experience working in the health care field. She has degrees in both biochemistry and nursing. After working with patients of all ages, Hollie now specializes in pediatric intensive care nursing. Hollie’s LinkedIn

Procedure for Applying an Elastic Support Hose

Equipment needed: elastic stockings.

  1. Perform hand hygiene.
  2. Explain the procedure to the patient and ask for his or her assistance in following directions.
  3. If the bed is adjustable, raise the bed to a comfortable working height.
  4. Assist the patient into a supine position.
  5. Expose the patient’s bare leg by removing any socks, shoes, or slippers.
  6. Turn the stocking inside out, down to the heel. To do this, slip the stocking onto your arm and grasp inside the heel pocket. With your other hand, turn the stocking inside out by pulling the stocking down your arm.
  7. Slip the foot into the stocking. Align the heel into the heel pocket and ensure the stocking is on straight. Smooth out any bumps before proceeding.
  8. Now, grab the inside-out portion of the stocking and begin pulling it over the foot, heel, and leg. The stocking will turn right side out as you pull it up the leg.
  9. Remove any wrinkles by smoothing out the stocking.
  10. Verify that the hose is on correctly and is not too tight or cutting off circulation.
  11. Repeat procedure on the other leg if necessary.
  12. Assist the patient back into a comfortable position.
  13. Perform hand hygiene.
  14. Document the procedure in the patient’s chart and report any changes in the patient’s condition to the nurse.

Important Information

Elastic stockings are worn to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and reduce the pooling of blood in vessels [1]. Many hospitals and care facilities use elastic stockings in patients with reduced mobility, such as surgical patients and/or the elderly. There are a few risks in wearing elastic stockings; however, these risks can be prevented with proper application and care.

First off, stockings should be the right size and shape for the person. Stockings that are too loose provide no benefit, whereas stockings that are too tight can cut off blood circulation, causing ischemia and increasing the risk for developing a DVT [1]. Second, stockings must be completely smooth, without folds or wrinkles. Folds and wrinkles may create a compressive band that can impede blood flow and result in patient injury [1].

Last, it is important to closely monitor patients wearing elastic stockings. Stocking should be worn for no longer than eight hours at a time, unless ordered otherwise. The stockings should be completely removed, and a nurse should assess the patient’s circulation. Nursing assistants should promptly notify the nurse if a patient complains of any numbness or tingling in the extremities.

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1356208/

More Resources

Supine Position

Supine position is a natural and comfortable position for most people. For this reason, it is a highly utilized position for nursing procedures. Unfortunately, this position puts pressure on many bony prominences that can lead to discomfort and/or pressure ulcers if the pressure is not relieved every so often (typically every two hours or less).

Moving the Resident to the Side of the Bed

Residents are usually kept in the center of the bed for safety reasons. However, moving a resident to the side of the bed is an important step to take before turning a resident onto his or her side. Performing this action allows the resident to end up side lying in the center of the bed and not smashed up against the side rail.

Sim’s Position

The position a patient is placed in is often ordered by the physician, or recommended by a speech, occupational, or physical therapist. The position dictates whether a patient is sitting, lying, standing; or if they are on their side, back, or prone (face-down). Positioning is also determined by the patient’s current needs, such as: Are they eating? Sleeping? Having surgery on their back? Are they receiving nutrition through a nasogastric tube?

Feeding the Patient

Not all patients will need help feeding themselves. Some patients will only need assistance opening cartons or cutting their food. To promote independence, always let the patient do as much as he or she can before assisting. It is vitally important that the nurse’s aide verifies that the patient receives the correct meal tray. Patients may have special diets that play a critical role in their health (i.e., pureed diet, gluten-free diet, food allergies, etc.). Feeding the wrong food to the wrong patient could result in serious complications.

Removing Personal Protective Equipment

It is important to follow the correct procedure while removing personal protective equipment to avoid contaminating your skin or clothing. The most common source of contamination in this process stems from improper removal of gloves. Gloves are often the most soiled piece of equipment. To avoid contaminating your skin or the other equipment worn, gloves should always be removed first. Then remove the goggles, gown, and mask, in that order.

Measuring and Recording Output from a Urinary Drainage Bag

Accurate measurement of urination (aka, the output portion of intake and output) allows medical personnel to assess kidney and bladder function. Changes in output quantity or quality can reflect health status changes including new-onset infection or renal injury.