This information explains nursing discharge instructions for wound care from the Urgent Care Center (UCC) or the Symptom Care Clinic (SCC).
Wound
Always wash your hands before and after touching the wound.
Talk with a member of your MSK healthcare team about how to care for your wound.
Follow their instructions about when to change your bandages and when you can take a shower or bath.
We may tell you to cover your wound to protect it from dirt and germs until it is fully healed.
Call your MSK healthcare team or go to the nearest emergency room if you notice:
- Swelling
- Redness (with or without streaking around the wound).
- Warmth
- Blistering
- New or worsening pain or discomfort.
- Change in drainage (leaking) or bad smell coming from the wound.
- A new rash.
- Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher or shaking chills.
- A wound that will not heal.
Your care team may direct you to your regional Symptom Care Clinic (SCC) or the Urgent Care Center (UCC).
Follow up with your MSK healthcare team after discharge.
You can search for information on this topic and many others in MSK’s Patient and Caregiver Education library at www.mskcc.org/pe