Patient discharge Nursing staff should carry out
a full assessment before the patient is dischargedto ascertain the patient and/or carer’s ability to
care for the pin site, and in particular, to be able to
adhere to the strict aseptic technique required to
limit complications while in hospital. The NAON
recommended that patients and their families
should be provided with education about pin site
care before discharge and that this should be
supported by the provision of written instructions
(Holmes et al 2005). Information should be
available in written, oral and visual formats and
should be consistent (Lee-Smith et al 2001). In
terms of risk, if it is considered that the patient
and/or carer is not able to achieve the required
competency to care for the pin site, then
healthcare professionals with particular
responsibility for pin site care should liaise with
community nurses to maintain consistency and
provide support (Lee-Smith et al 2001).