Wound Care
A Handbook for Community Nurses
Handbook for Community Nurses Series (WHURR)
The day-to-day responsibility for wound management is a role
usually undertaken by nurses. It includes assessing the wound,
selecting an appropriate treatment, and evaluating the patients'
progress. In order to do this effectively the nurse needs to
understand the healing process, recognize the factors which may
delay wound healing, understand how wound healing can be optimized,
know how to recognize complications if they arise and know how to
treat them.
This text, specifically written for community nurses, including
practice nurses, provides a picture of wound healing for both acute
and chronic wounds that may be encountered in a community setting.
An overview of the function of the skin and phases of wound healing
are examined prior to looking at the relationship between wound
healing and the patients' health and lifestyle.
The reference is written in a question-and-answer format, and
includes relevant case studies.
Preface ix
Chapter 1 Wound healing 1
Chapter 2 Wound assessment 11
Chapter 3 Factors affecting wound healing 23
Chapter 4 Wound cleansing 30
Chapter 5 Dressings 33
Chapter 6 Surgical wounds 45
Chapter 7 Burns, scalds and minor injuries 50
Chapter 8 Leg ulcers 56
Chapter 9 Pressure sores 81
Chapter 10 Wound infection 95
Chapter 11 Miscellaneous 105
Chapter 12 Clinical effectiveness, Sarah Freeman 111
Glossary 129
Resources 133
References 136
Index 143
