Wound Assessment

By the WoundSource Editors Litigation over hospital-acquired pressure ulcers represents a significant fraction of a medical malpractice attorney's caseload. The liability issues have shifted since...

By Laurie Swezey RN, BSN, CWOCN, CWS, FACCWS As part of a thorough wound assessment, in addition to noting location and measuring size, the entire wound bed should be probed for the presence of tun...

By Laurie Swezey RN, BSN, CWOCN, CWS, FACCWS Dressing changes can be painful experiences for clients. Pain is often not addressed or may be addressed inadequately. Pain is a significant issue for m...

by Kelly Byrd-Jenkins, CWS It may come as no surprise to some, but pressure ulcers are among the only hospital-acquired conditions that have been on the rise in recent years. Other hospital-acquire...

By Cheryl Carver, LPN, WCC, CWCA, FACCWS, DAPWCA, CLTC One of my favorite topics to discuss in wound care is biofilms. When I conduct wound care in-services or trainings, I always ask the audience,...

By Karen Zulkowski DNS, RN, CWS I previously discussed the need for a complete head-to-toe skin assessment. Certainly this can tell you whether or not the person is dehydrated, has open or discolor...

My approach to wound care education with patients, providers, and nursing staff the last 20+ years has always been to make learning fun while emphasizing that wounds are a serious topic. My strong pas...

In the times that I have worked with amazing hospitals and doctors, I have learned and gathered information on the differences between two types of necrotizing infections that happen in the world of w...

By Holly M. Hovan, MSN, RN-BC, APRN-CNS, CWOCN-AP As wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nurses, and nurses in general, we are often so busy taking care of others that sometimes we forget to take c...

By Laurie Swezey RN, BSN, CWOCN, CWS, FACCWS As health care providers, we are all familiar with the signs of wound inflammation. However, it can sometimes be difficult to determine whether a wound ...