• wafer dressing containing gel-forming agents in an adhesive compound laminated onto a flexible water resistant outer layer
• occlusive or semi-occlusive dressing to cover the wound and prevent bacteria and fluids from interacting with the wound while promoting moist wound healing and
  autolytic debridement

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When to Use:

• to protect intact skin or newly healed wounds
• non-infected wounds with scant to moderate drainage
• wounds with granulation tissue or necrotic tissue
• partial and full thickness wounds
• may be used under compression

Advantages:

• available in variety of shapes, sizes, adhesive properties and in a variety of forms including wafers, pastes and powders
• adhesive, moldable, provides a moisture barrier
• promotes moist wound healing
• provides autolytic debridement

Disadvantages:

• many CANNOT be used on infected wounds – check manufacturer’s instructions
• dislodges with heavy exudate
• odor when removed
• dressing may dislodge with shearing or friction – beveled      edges may help prevent this
• may cause peri-wound maceration

Examples:

• DuoDerm, Ultec, RepliCare, Tegasorb, Restore

Reminders:

• many are not for use on infected wounds – check manufacturer’s instructions
• not indicated for heavily exudating wounds
• apply wafer 1 – 2 inches larger than wound
• change every 3 days or up to 7 days, depending on exudates and manufacturer’s instructions
• DO NOT USE with fungal lesions, herpetic lesions, wound with deep tunnels, tracts and undermining, fragile surrounding skin, exposed tendon or bone
• dressing may be warmed prior to application for improved    adherence;  hold in place 30 – 40 seconds when applying

www.wcei.net

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Designed as full day or half day events, the seminars are presented in an exciting, motivating and energizing format that makes the perfect learning environment.

Choose from Wound Assessment or Topical Wound Management topics.  Seminar dates and locations will be added throughout the year.

Send all staff members that work with wounds–LPNs, RNs, NPs, PTs, physicians, nurse managers, treatment nurses, wound care team members, clinic directors, MDS coordinators, consultants and any clinicians interested in wound care.

For a complete schedule visit our website and click on the One Day tab.  Visit us at www.wcei.net

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Description:
Combination of 2 or more physically distinct products manufactured as a single dressing that provides multiple functions :  a bacterial barrier, absorbency, a degree of

Composite Dressing

non-adherence to the wound bed and self adhesiveness

When to Use:
Primary or secondary dressing for partial or full thickness wounds, wounds with minimal to heavy exudate, granulating or necrotic wounds

Advantages:

Disadvantages:
Requires border of intact skin on which to  adhere the dressing

Examples:                   ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
Covaderm, Alldress, Telpha Island, Stratasorb, Tegaderm Pad, OpSite Post-Op

Reminders:

• cannot cut dressings – use appropriate size
• frequency of change varies – follow manufacturer’s instructions
• do  not stretch dressing during application

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Description:
- derived from brown seaweed, spun into rope or flat dressing forms
- absorbs up to 20 times its weight
- conforms to the shape of the wound
- combines with wound exudate to form a soft gel to maintain a moist wound environment

One of New Zealand’s most common brown seaweeds is Neptune’s necklace (Hormosira banksii), with its chains of beads

When to Use:
- primary dressing on partial and full thickness wounds
- draining wounds with moderate to heavy exudate
- infected and non-infected wounds
- wounds with tunneling and undermining
- must be used in moist wounds in order for product to gel
- may be used for extended periods of time

Advantages:
- absorbent
- conformable, non-adhesive
- provides moist wound healing environment
- easy to use
- fills dead space
- promotes autolytic debridement

Disadvantages:
- expensive to use in large wounds
- if wound bed is dry it will not form a gel and may adhere to granulation tissue, dry out the wound bed and cause trauma to healing tissue

Examples:
- Curasorb, Sorbsan, Kaltostat, Fibracol, Aquacel

Reminders:
- irrigate wound with normal saline or pH balanced surfactant cleanser between dressing changes
- use in moderate to heavily exudating wounds; not for use in a dry wound
- cover with secondary dressing
- change as needed, usually 1 -3 days, some up to 5 days
- it is inappropriate to moisten this product before using or to use with hydrogel – such actions indicate another type of dressing would be more appropriate
Wound Care Education Institute – 1-877-462-9234 – www.wcei.net

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What Kind of Wound am I? Untangling the Types of Wounds to Know How to Treat Them will be presented by Michelle Moore MSN, RN, CWN, WCEI Clinical Instructor at this year’s Wild on Wounds National Conference in Las Vegas NV September 7-10,2011.

In this session, we’ll look at the different types of wounds and some common ways to determine what type they are. We’ll discuss ways to treat them and ways to overcome the challenges and problems that we face when they have been identified and/or treated incorrectly. You’ll learn how using the knowledge of the wound can help you prevent, treat and advocate for the patient. Beyond the basics, this session will benefit the advanced clinician.

For more information about the Wound Care Education Institute, please visit http://www.wcei.net.

Click Here To Register for the Wild on Wounds National Conference

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For more information about the Wound Care Education Institute, please visit http://www.wcei.net.

Click Here To Register for the Wild on Wounds National Conference

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For more information about the Wound Care Education Institute, please visit http://www.wcei.net.

Click Here To Register for the Wild on Wounds National Conference

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For more information about the Wound Care Education Institute, please visit http://www.wcei.net.

Click Here To Register for the Wild on Wounds National Conference

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Paying It Forward and making It Count will be presented by Nancy Morgan RN,BSN,MBA,WOCN,WCC,CWCMS, Co-Founder of WCEI and Donna Sardina RN,MHA,WCC,CWCMS , Co-Founder of WCEI at this year’s Wild on Wounds National Conference in Las Vegas September 7-10,2011

In 2010 we achieved over 10,000 Wound Care Certified clinicians to our family. This has given us an idea of the incredible size and strength of our community of clinicians. As we grow and evolve in our careers, many of us want to find ways to “pay forward” the opportunities we’ve had and help to build the community of the future. In this session, we’ll explore ways to share our talents through mentoring, precepting and the training of others. Topics include preceptor tools, presentation and training tips, and how to build wound care teams. We’ll look at exciting new ways to inspire others and find ways to use our experience to create a new career in the industry and give back to our communities.

For more information about the Wound Care Education Institute, please visit http://www.wcei.net.

Click Here To Register for the Wild on Wounds National Conference

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Are We Treating the WHOLE Patient, or Just the HOLE in the Patient? Wound Care Clinics will be presented by Jeff Kingery RN, Vice President Clinical Services of The Center for Wound Healing at this year’s Wild on Wounds National Conference in Las Vegas September 7-10,2011

The session will focus on treating the patient holistically. Let’s face it: wound centers are busy places these days. We all get caught up in the daily routine of moving patients in and out of the system as efficiently as possible. Does higher patient volume really translate to higher profitability? In today’s marketplace can we still be profitable and impact more than just wound closure?

For more information about the Wound Care Education Institute, please visit http://www.wcei.net.

Click Here To Register for the Wild on Wounds National Conference

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