Nurses should know that not all drug patches are waterproof. My personal experience has been that Lidoderm (lidocaine patch 5%) isn't waterproof and it absorbs water. Lidoderm is worn only 12 hours per day, so someone using it should bathe, shower, or swim before applying or after removing this patch. A patch that's been removed should never be reapplied.

DEB JOHNSON, RN, BA

Katy, Tex.

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