What does a wound care nurse do?

A wound care nurse is a medical professional who evaluates, treats, and develops specialised care plans for patients with complex wounds, burns, and chronic pressure injuries. They provide home-based services and work in clinics and high-pressure settings.

The Roles and Responsibilities of a Wound Care Nurse

A wound care nurse specialises in the following:

• Assessment of the wound, identification of the type of wound and dressing of wounds.
• Develop individualised, continuous treatment plans for patients.
• Provide continuous education and timeous consultations and follow-ups with patients. They educate staff and patients on proper wound care management, thereby reducing the risk of infection.
• Management of complex conditions such as burns, surgical-related wounds and diabetic foot ulcers.

The Importance of Wound Care

Adequate wound care involves cleaning the wound, removing any debris, and applying a non-stick dressing to ensure the wound heals properly.

Wound healing occurs in several stages, such as:

• The inflammatory stage occurs when the blood vessels at the site begin to constrict, limiting blood loss, and platelets (clotting cells) gather to form a clot. After the clot has formed, blood vessels dilate, allowing maximum blood flow to the wound. This is the reason a recently healed wound feels warm and appears red.
• The fibroblastic stage occurs when collagen, an abundant protein, starts to form within the wound. The process allows the wound edges to contract and close.
• The maturation stage redefines the wound region. It can take several months or years. This is why it takes some time for scars to fade, which is why it’s so important to maintain continuous wound care.

Dressing the wound is individualised in each case and depends on the type and extent of the wound. The wound sister will advise on the most appropriate wound care to ensure optimal healing.

Sister Anura Ramchander (Specialist Wound Care Nurse) runs wound care practice via Dr Govender's rooms.