PPE: How to reduce your chance of pressure injuries during COVID-19

June 3rd, 2020
Share
Share
Pin
Tweet
PPE

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical to your safety while caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But healthcare workers also should be aware of PPE guidelines to prevent side effects. One example is pressure injuries can occur from wearing the items meant to keep you protected.

Because of the nature of how the virus spreads, those caring for infected patients are required to wear masks in an effort to reduce risk of acquiring the virus.

Working an entire shift in this environment requires wearing a mask almost continually, which has led to the development of tissue damage from moisture and pressure.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Pressure injury, Wound and skin management | Comments Off on PPE: How to reduce your chance of pressure injuries during COVID-19

Ability of patient to provide own ostomy care called into question

May 27th, 2020
Share
Share
Pin
Tweet
ostomy

As a wound care nurse, you teach your patients how to care for their wounds, including a colostomy.

You teach them as they observe treatments you provide, such as ostomy care, while they are at a clinic.

It also includes orally reciting your care as you carry out treatment and direct the patient. This empowers them to understand what is required for appropriate personal care. 

You also might write down instructions and diagrams about required treatment that patients can take home and reference.

The teach-back method of patient instruction incorporates both of these approaches. This is when you have the patient repeat back what you instruct and demonstrate the care you described.

Any patient teaching also requires that the patient comprehend your:

  • Demonstration of care
  • Verbal instructions
  • Ability to carry out the treatment
Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Ostomy, Stoma, Wound care documentation, Wound care litigation | Comments Off on Ability of patient to provide own ostomy care called into question

Malignant wounds: How to identify and treat them

May 20th, 2020
Share
Share
Pin
Tweet
malignant wounds

Some wound care clinicians have experience caring for patients with malignant wounds.

But you may not be familiar with them at all. We recently spoke with a malignant wounds expert to learn more about them.

That expert is Joni Brinker, MSN/MHA, RN, WCC, an Ohio-based consultant and clinical nurse educator with Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services of Eden Prairie, Minn.

She is a returning speaker for our 2020 virtual Wild on Wounds (WOW) national conference in September. She offered the following explanation.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Infection, Wild on Wounds Conference, Wound and skin management, Wound care education | Comments Off on Malignant wounds: How to identify and treat them

Maggot debridement therapy and leech therapy are viable options

May 13th, 2020
Share
Share
Pin1
Tweet
1 Shares
maggot debridement therapy

Using maggots and leeches in the healthcare setting can make many people cringe, including seasoned wound care clinicians.

But the age-old treatments of maggot debridement therapy and leech therapy are relatively inexpensive and fairly effective.

“Maggot therapy can save a limb in approximately 40% to 60% of patients scheduled for amputation,” said Ronald Sherman, MD, MSc, DTM&H, director at BioTherapuetics, Education & Research (BTER) Foundation, co-founder.

Sherman also works as the laboratory director at Monarch Labs and a practicing physician in Orange County, Calif.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Debridement, Infection, Wild on Wounds Conference, Wound and skin management | Comments Off on Maggot debridement therapy and leech therapy are viable options

How to differentiate stasis dermatitis from cellulitis

May 6th, 2020
Share
Share
Pin1
Tweet
1 Shares
stasis dermatitis

In my experience, I have encountered the confusion between venous dermatitis and cellulitis that plagues the wound care industry. 

The unlikely diagnosis of “bilateral cellulitis” is not uncommon in wound care, followed by two weeks of unnecessary antibiotic therapy.

Despite some similarities, there are many differentiating characteristics that diagnosing clinicians either overlook or misunderstand. 

In an effort to help clinicians more accurately differentiate the two conditions, we will discuss the differences in this blog post. It will help you prescribe appropriate treatments and improve patient outcomes.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Infection, Wound and skin management, Wound assessment, Wound care education | Comments Off on How to differentiate stasis dermatitis from cellulitis

Why continued competence in wound care nursing matters

April 29th, 2020
Share
Share
Pin
Tweet
continued competence

Continued competence in nursing is not a new idea. It has been the focus of professional nursing practice at all levels.

You can find an abundance of information, research and articles on continued competence, whether the topic is:

  • How continued competence is measured
  • How it can be improved
  • How best to increase and maintain competence

One definition of competence is the quality or state of having sufficient knowledge, judgment, skill or strength (as for a particular duty or in a particular respect).

Another definition describes competence as the quality of being competent — adequacy; the possession of required skill, judgment, qualification or capacity.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Wound care litigation | Comments Off on Why continued competence in wound care nursing matters

How to teach patients to manage wound care at home during COVID-19

April 20th, 2020
Share
Share
Pin
Tweet
wound care at home

Some wound care centers are closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More patients are opting to perform their own wound care at home because they are concerned about venturing out and risking exposure to the virus.

We spoke with three wound care professionals to learn more about care provided in the home and teaching patients and families to care for wounds until life returns to normal. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Infection, Wound and skin management, Wound assessment, Wound care education | Comments Off on How to teach patients to manage wound care at home during COVID-19

Wipe Out Wounds Tour explores updated NPIAP Guideline

April 15th, 2020
Share
Share
Pin
Tweet
NPIAP Guideline

NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and concerns for the health and safety of our attendees, sponsors and instructors, the 2020 Wipeout Wounds Tour is being rescheduled for 2021, with our first sessions scheduled for the spring. To view current dates and information on the 2021 Wipeout Wounds National Conference Tour, please click here.

Are you aware of the new pressure injury guidelines?

The National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) and its partner organizations released the 2019 Clinical Practice Guideline for the prevention and treatment of pressure injuries.

The new NPIAP Guideline consists of a 409-page document. As a wound care clinician, you’ll be expected to integrate these current standards of care and pressure injury guidelines into your practice.

Donna Sardina, MHA, RN, WCC, CWCMS, DWC, OMS, co-founder of the Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI) and the Wild on Wounds (WOW) Conference, shared some highlights of the new guideline that you should know.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Pressure injury, Wound and skin management, Wound assessment | Comments Off on Wipe Out Wounds Tour explores updated NPIAP Guideline

COVID-19 pandemic: The potential impact on wound care

April 7th, 2020
Share
Share
Pin
Tweet
COVID-19

COVID-19 is making quite a stir in our society at large.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and many countries are being affected, some more severely than others. There is no doubt this viral outbreak is serious.

We have enough data to know the elderly and individuals with one or more significant health issues (diabetes, immunosuppression and/or upper respiratory comorbidities) are at the highest risk for serious illness and death.

What do you as wound care clinicians need to think about when managing your patients in hospitals, nursing homes and home care?

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Nutrition, Wound and skin management, Wound assessment | Comments Off on COVID-19 pandemic: The potential impact on wound care

An overview of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and wound care

April 1st, 2020
Share
Share
Pin
Tweet

Most wound care clinicians see wounds related to peripheral artery disease (PAD) on a frequent if not daily basis.

So let’s learn about PAD’s prevalence, understand the different ways it presents and best practices for managing it.

We spoke with Donald Wollheim, MD, FAPWCA, WCC, DWC, a board-certified surgeon of the American Board of Surgery, to get his insight on PAD.

With 25 years of experience in general/vascular surgery and 13 years as a wound care specialist, educator and case reviewer, Wollheim also is a clinical instructor for our Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI).

“From a wound care clinician’s point of view, it is critical to have good to excellent, oxygenated, arterial blood providing the tissues of the lower extremity to heal any wound of the leg,” Wollheim said.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Ankle Brachial Index, Wound and skin management, Wound assessment | Comments Off on An overview of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and wound care

« Older Entries