Wound Care Nursing: A Guide to Practice (Guide to Practice Series) - Softcover

Templeton, Sue

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0975044516 ISBN 13: 9780975044513

Publisher: Ausmed Publications, 2007

Synopsis

At some time, all nurses can expect to manage a person with a wound and because they spend so much time with their patients, nurses have a special opportunity to provide modern, evidence-based wound care with a person-centred focus. The contributors to this book are nurses and other health professionals who are acknowledged experts in their various fields. This wealth of clinical experience has produced a practical informative text that is enhanced with illustrative case studies and explanatory diagrams and photographs. In keeping with the evidence-based nature of the text, the book concludes with a list of references and a comprehensive, cross-referenced index.

About this title

Synopsis

Nurses and wound management The management of persons with wounds is an interesting, challenging, and rewarding endeavour. Wound management is practised by nurses in all care settings with patients of all ages. At some time, nurses who work in settings as diverse as a residential aged-care facility, an intensive-care unit of a major hospital, or a small clinic in a remote rural community can all expect to manage a person with a wound. Wounds are thus a common and significant cause of morbidity and mortality-and represent a financial and social burden to individuals and the wider community. Nurses have a vital role in wound management. Because they spend so much time with patients, nurses are well positioned to assess and implement wound-management interventions to achieve optimal outcomes. Through a close professional relationship with patients, nurses can deliver evidence-based wound management with a person-centred focus. The apparently simple act of changing a dressing epitomises the caring nature of nursing-the healing touch of a nurse in reaching out to a wounded person. Wound management is both a generalist and a specialist skill.

Because virtually all nurses care for a person with a wound at some stage during their careers, wound management is a generalist skill. Every nurse must be able to plan and implement interventions that facilitate optimal outcomes and cause no harm. Basic skills in wound management are thus an essential aspect of sound general nursing. In addition to these generalist skills, some nurses have developed advanced skills in wound management. These nurses might hold a position as a wound-management specialist, consultant, or resource nurse. The development of advanced nursing roles provides nurses with an opportunity to build a career in wound management. The scientific and technological advances that are now being made in wound management have the potential to revolutionise the treatment of wounds. As a consequence, wound management as a specialty area of practice has burgeoned in recent years. There are now many local, national, and international associations that are dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in wound management. Multidisciplinary associations for wound management meet regularly to debate contemporary issues and to develop wound-management guidelines and documents.

This collaboration of expert clinicians, researchers, and scientists provides a powerful unifying voice for wound management. In parallel with these developments, the role of nurses has also seen significant development. Nurses are no longer valued only for their skills in bandage application; rather, nurses have built a significant reputation as expert wound management clinicians in their own right.

Edition details

• Publisher: Ausmed Publications
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0975044516
• ISBN 13: 9780975044513
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 420