Subject Guides: Wound Management: Overview

Overview

This guide has been developed in conjunction with NSLHD Librarians and the NSLHD Clinical Governance Unit to support the Wound Dynamics Education Series. The guide provides recommended reading and links to expert searches relating to wound care.
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Related Guides

These NSLHD guides may also contain information relevant to Wound Dynamics Education Series. For other specialty guides go to our Library Guides menu>Topic Guides

Learn more about Wound Care

Evans, N. (2023). Why getting documentation right is key to improving wound care: New standards aim for enhanced assessment and greater consistency in wound care by focusing on the role of record-keeping, investigating underlying causes and communication
Pearce, L. (2023). Your guide to assessing and managing wounds: Wound types you will encounter in practice, how to assess them and select appropriate dressings, and what prevents wound healing. Nursing Standard, 38(2): 57-58. Managing wounds is a fundamental aspect of nursing care, but there is marked variation across UK services, according to NHS England's National Wound Care Strategy Programme.
Carlin, A. S. (2022). Essentials of wound care: Assessing and managing impaired skin integrity. Nursing Standard, 37(10): 69-74. The article provides nurses with an overview of the assessment and management of impaired skin integrity using tissue, inflammation and infection, moisture balance, edge, repair and regeneration, and social factors (TIMERS) tool. Topics discussed include main types of wound tissue, nursing considerations for self-care in patients with wounds, and importance of shared decision-making in developing wound care regimes.
Wynn, M. (2022). How to cleanse a wound. Nursing Standard, 37(10): 62-65. The article offers information on wound cleansing, a routine element of wound care. Topics discussed include preparation and equipment before cleansing a wound, potential benefits and harms of different categories of cleansing solutions, and potential benefits and harms associated with different cleansing techniques.
Docherty, J. (2020). Understanding the elements of a holistic wound assessment. Nursing Standard, 35(10): 69-76. Why you should read this article: • To enhance your awareness of the factors that can affect wound healing and management • To refresh your knowledge of the components of a holistic wound assessment • To count towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD, or you may wish to write a reflective account (UK readers) • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers) Wounds have become a significant public health challenge and consume a large amount of healthcare resources. Wounds can have severe negative effects on patients' quality of life, causing psychological and social distress, and may lead to significant periods of lost employment, resulting in financial loss. For nurses to manage wounds effectively, they need to be competent in undertaking holistic wound assessments. This article supports nurses' understanding by providing information on various types of wounds and their differing aetiologies. It also outlines the elements of a wound assessment and discusses some of the challenges that may be encountered during this process.