What Does a Wound Care Nurse Do?: A Quick Overview!

Wound care nurses are valuable members of the medical team, with an impact that extends beyond the boundaries of their department. The role involves caring for patients of all ages who are experiencing various types of wounds, either traumatic or chronic. In addition to nursing duties, they help create a treatment plan and educate patients on what can be done to improve their condition.

Besides, wound care nurses use several techniques to assess, treat, and care for patients with wounds. They might also share valuable information to help patients care for themselves between visits.

This implies that wound care nurses on the hospital team must fulfill a variety of responsibilities. Let's have a look at what those are in brief!

Typical Wound Care Nurse Responsibilities

1. Assessing and monitoring wounds: Wound care nurses can assess and monitor wounds on all types of patients. They determine the areas of wounds, their location, current state or degree of severity, etc.

2. Debriding, cleaning, and bandaging wounds: Debridement is the process of removing dead, loose, or infected tissue that slows down or prohibits healing. Wound care nurses can implement debridement on various types of wounds. They monitor the depth, location, and boundaries of wounds before wrapping them with sterile bandages.

3. Working with the care team to determine if other treatments are required: In this case, treatments might include other methods such as wound dressings or antibiotics. Wound care nurses may recommend other types of treatment or help determine if they should be implemented.

4. Caring for ostomies, diabetic foot care, and more: Wound care nurses often work directly with patients and their families to ensure that wounds remain clean and dry. They recommend different cleaning products and techniques that can remove dead tissue or other substances that might inhibit wound healing.

5. Educating patients about nutrition, medications, and more: Wound care nurses help educate patients on the various ways they can take care of themselves. They may go over the best diet for certain patients and provide information on medications that can affect wound healing, such as steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories.

6. Completing documentation for Medicare reimbursement: Wound care nurses must document the different methods of treatment they're providing on a patient's chart. They may need to keep detailed notes regarding wound care activities and suggested further treatments, for Medicare reimbursement purposes.

7. Writing orders to promote wound healing and avoid skin breakdown: Wound care nurses can order a variety of things to promote wound healing and prevent skin breakdown. These might include dressings, medications, or supplements recommended by the physician.

8. Ordering lab tests and imaging: Wound care nurses can order lab tests or imaging to help assess the severity of wounds. This might include blood work, X-rays, etc., depending on what type of information is needed for a particular patient.

9. Supervising wound care technicians: Wound care nurses may supervise wound care technicians and teaching assistants. They may review and assess reports submitted by technology aides, in addition to checking patient charts and assessing wound care needs.

10. Working in management and quality: At some healthcare facilities, nurse managers cover several different areas including wound care nursing. Nurse managers make sure that wound care nurses are following proper procedures for ordering supplies, providing treatment, and completing documentation.

Conclusion:

Wound care nurses are vital members of the healthcare team. They play a key role in assessing, monitoring, and providing treatment for wounds, and many more.

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