• Lf the physician/CNM determines that a vaginal pack is needed, the circulating nurse should open one at that time.
• Write in the chart that vaginal packing was placed and who is responsible for removing it. lf the vaginal packing is to be removed by nursing staff, the order should indicate when it must be removed.
• The labor and delivery nurse should perform a handoff to subsequent caregivers involved in the postpartum care and indicate that vaginal packing has been placed, who is expected to remove it, and when.
• The patient should be told that she has vaginal packing and when it will be removed. The patient should be actively engaged in makng sure the vaginal packing is removed.