Author Archive

3 Types of Wound Closure and What They Mean

Wednesday, March 8th, 2023

As a wound care clinician, you know the wound healing process has many moving parts, including types of wound closures.

In wound care, the goal should be to heal the wound as soon as possible and to keep it healed. And with wound healing, there are three types of wound closure techniques to consider to achieve this — primary intention, secondary intention, and tertiary intention.

The selection of wound closure type depends on how the wound is presented. Noting physical characteristics like exudate color or wound size can help you identify the correct course of treatment and the most appropriate type to use.

(more…)

Posted in Skin & Wound Management, Wound Healing | Comments Off on 3 Types of Wound Closure and What They Mean

Exudate: What the Type and Quantities Tell You

Thursday, January 26th, 2023

For successful wound treatment and healing, it’s vital to understand the different types of exudate and how much is present.

Ooze. Pus. Secretion. The drainage that seeps out of wounds can go by many names, but as wound care clinicians, you know the technical term is exudate. This liquid is produced by the body in response to tissue damage and tells you all you need to know about the wound.

Dianna Dashner, DNP, FNP-C, WCC, CLNC, LLE, Senior Nurse Practitioner at ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation said it’s important to know the type and amount of exudate because this will direct the type of treatment.

“For example, the use of a calcium alginate necessitates moderate to heavy exudate,” she said. “If the wound has purulent drainage, you will want to thoroughly cleanse the wound to remove all the exudate and then culture the wound.” She added that if an infection is suspected and there is moderate to heavy drainage, a calcium alginate with silver may be a good choice for treatment. Her example highlights the significance that the amount and type of exudate makes in wound treatment.

(more…)

Posted in Skin & Wound Management, Wound Assessment & Documentation, Wound Healing | Comments Off on Exudate: What the Type and Quantities Tell You

The Benefit of Mentorship in Wound Care

Tuesday, August 16th, 2022

Whether you’re a certified wound care nurse or clinical educator seeking to share your wisdom, mentorship in wound care is invaluable to healthcare staff at any stage in their career.

According to the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Certification Board (WOCNCB), there are almost 8,000 nurses certified in wound care. The wound care profession is a cohesive community of healthcare professionals who collaborate, share knowledge, network, and support one another, defining what mentorship in wound care is all about.

Many may think the term “mentorship” is synonymous with “preceptorship.” However, while precepting shares similarities with mentoring, mentorship in wound care can be vastly different.

(more…)

Posted in Non-Clinical, Specialties, Wild on Wounds Conference, Wound Care Careers | Comments Off on The Benefit of Mentorship in Wound Care

Making an Impact: Successful Wound Care Poster Presentations

Friday, May 6th, 2022

If you’re interested in submitting a poster presentation for the Wild on Wounds (WOW) conference, you’ll want to highlight your research findings succinctly through a combination of text and visuals.

“Poster presentations are a great way for clinicians to showcase their hard work on a project,” suggested Diana Ramirez-Ripp, HMCC, CWCMS, manager of live events for WCEI. “The content of the poster should interest your audience and provide a clear take-home message that attendees can grasp in a few moments.”

At the upcoming WOW conference, you’ll have the opportunity to share your research and accomplishments with other wound care professionals through poster abstracts. Posters are a standard at many conferences, and at WOW they include inspiring and thought-provoking presentations in various areas of wound care. These presentations give attendees the opportunity to gain new evidence-based knowledge in practice.

(more…)

Posted in Non-Clinical, Specialties, Wild on Wounds Conference, Wound Care Research | Comments Off on Making an Impact: Successful Wound Care Poster Presentations