wound care
Wound Care
Patient was instructed on what to avoid in presence of ulcers. Friction and shear need to be reduced. Friction is the mechanical force exerted when skin is dragged against a coarse surface while shear is the mechanical force caused by the interplay of gravity and friction.
Patient was instructed how to reduce friction and shear. Use draw sheet for repositioning, encourage use of trapeze if possible, keep head of bed elevated (if tolerated), elevate foot of bed slightly (if condition permits), use pillow or wedge to support hip (side lying, lateral position), utilize lifts and transfer devices.
Patient was instructed on pain caused by pressure ulcers. Pain can be classified as acute or chronic. Cyclic acute pain, which is periodic and corresponds to the pain experienced during repeated management, such as dressing changes or patient repositioning and non-cyclic acute pain, which is accidental, including pain experienced during occasional procedures such as debridement or drain removal.
Patient was instructed on traumatic wounds. Contusions are caused by more extensive tissue trauma after severe blunt or blast trauma. The overlying skin may seem to be intact but later become non-viable. Extensive contusion may lead to infection.
Patient was instructed on wounds contributing facts. In addition to poor circulation, neuropathy, and difficulty moving, factors that contribute to chronic wounds include systemic illness, age and repeated trauma.
Patient was instructed on factors that may contribute to chronic wounds is old age. The skin of older people is more easily damaged, and older cells do not proliferate as fast and may not have an adequate response to stress in terms of gene up regulation of stress related proteins. In older cells, stress response genes are over expressed when the cell is not stressed, but when it is, the expression of these proteins is not regulated by as much as in younger cells.
Patient was instructed on treating painful wounds. Persistent pain associated with non-healing wounds is caused by tissue or nerve damage and is influenced by dressing changes and chronic inflammation. Chronic wounds take long time to heal and patients can suffer from chronic wounds for many years.
Patient was instructed on pressure ulcer also called decubitus or bed sore. A pressure ulcer is the results of damage caused by pressure over time causing an ischemia of underlying structures. Bony prominences are the most common sites and causes.
Instructed patient about some signs and symptoms of pressure ulcers, such as, skin tissue that feels firm or boggy, local redness, warmth, tenderness or swelling.
Skilled Nurse instructed caregiver get at least 4 pillows, include one of those long body pillows since you can and place them between the knees, ankles, under the arms and behind the back when the patient is laid on her side.