1. BN Year 1 Semester 2, 2014 Hongyan Lu
Wound Management
BN Year 1
Semester 2, 2014
Hongyan Lu

2. Session Content Wound classification Factors affecting wound healing
Basic wound assessment
Wound care products

3. Classification of wound
Can be base on:
Mechanism of injury
Time that takes for a wound to heal

4. Mechanism of Injury Intentional wound Unintentional wound
- surgery for diagnosis, cure, exploration,
e.g. incision
- Treatment – intravenous cannula, epidural
insertion, e.g. puncture
Unintentional wound
- accidents – road accident, sports, victim of crimes, etc.
- poor care – skin tear, pressure areas/sores
- allergies – blisters
- Treatment complications – skin damages due to
radiotherapy and chemotherapy

5. Time taken for wound healing
Acute wound - wounds that heal by first intention
Chronic wound - wounds that heal by secondary intention and tertiary intention

6. Factors affecting wound healing
Patient factors – age, nutritional status, past medical conditions, current health concerns, knowledge and self-care ability, screening for possible infectious status – multidrug-resistant organisms
Health professionals: standard precautions such as hand hygiene, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), wound care knowledge, assessment and skills, communication, monitoring effectiveness of treatment
Environment – isolation protocols, environment cleaning such as linen management, blood and body fluid spill management, sharps

7. Wound assessment Location Physical examination - any dressing in situ
- size/depth: any skin and tissue loss
- discharge/exudate/drainage – colour, amount, odour
- colour of the wound tissue
- presence of stitches and staples and any other foreign
body
- surrounding skin
Most importantly, what does the patient feel about the wound?

8. Wound care products
Cleaning agents – 0.9% NaCl (normal saline); tap water
Change of dressing (COD)
- what do dressings do for a wound?
- if there is a need for changing dressings
- Dressing types
1) occlusive and adhesive dressing products:
e.g. transparent dressings
2) non-adhesive absorbent dressing
3) microfoam
4) fixation: tape, tubigrib, etc

9. References:
Crisp, J., & Taylor, C. (2013). Potter and Perry’s fundamentals of Nursing
(4th ed.). Chatswood, NSW, Australian: Elsevier.
Dempsey, J., Hillege, S., & Hill, R. (2014). Fundamentals of nursing and
midwifery: A person-centred approach to care (2nd ed.) (Australian and
New Zealand edition). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins Pty Ltd.
Fernandez, R., Griffiths, R., & Ussia, C. (2006). Water for wound cleansing.
Journal of Athletic Training, 41(2), 196–197.
Retrieved from
Mölnlycke Health Care. (n.d.) Wound care dressings. Retrieved from
Smith&Nephew New Zealand. (n.d.). Product types.
Retrieved from :
Waitemata District Health Board. (n.d.). Wound assessment chart.