Skin & Wound Care: What You Need to Know

Course overview

Purpose statement This course provides current information about wounds and wound care. Nurses who work with patients with existing wounds or health conditions that make wounds more likely to occur, or nurses who have a desire to increase knowledge regarding the prevention, identification, and treatment of wounds will find this course useful. Learning outcomes Upon completing this course, the learner will be able to: • Describe the normal anatomy and pathophysiology of the skin. • Compare and contrast various types of acute and chronic wounds. • Identify each phase of wound healing. • Identify factors that affect the normal healing process. • Describe the nurse’s responsibility in assessing and documenting wounds. • Explain how wounds are diagnosed. • Identify treatment modalities for various types of wounds. • Identify nursing interventions used to prevent acute and chronic wounds. • Discuss the legal implications for nurses caring for patients with wounds.