What do wound care nurses do

If you want to make a quality of life difference in the lives of a lot of people, working as a wound care nurse can help you do that. What do you need to know? Here are some things to consider if you are considering selecting this career path. A wound care nurse specializes in caring for those who have chronic wounds that will not heal properly.

When most people get a wound it heals up on its own, but those who are diabetic, bed-bound, or otherwise compromised may find that their wounds do not heal at all. In some cases, the wound will heal, but it will be very slow to do so. With these kinds of problems, patients are vulnerable to secondary infections and related issues. A WOC nurse short for wound care, ostomy, and continence nurse , can help reduce the problems these patients have with non-healing or poorly healing wounds and give them a better and more comfortable quality of life.

A wound care nurse treats any type of chronically slow-healing or non-healing wound. These types of wounds often include bedsores, pressure ulcers, and diabetic foot care issues, but can also include care of any type of ostomy, along with surgical incisions that do not heal properly and anything that requires a wound vac.

Even though an ostomy is a medical procedure, it still leaves an open wound in the body. That wound has to be cared for on a long-term basis and must be addressed properly in order to be sure it does not become infected. The same is true with a surgical incision or other open areas. The chance of infection is very real, and a wound care nurse will help greatly reduce that chance.

Wound care nurses both save lives and help improve the quality of life for ma patients. Cleaning and bandaging wounds takes time and must be done correctly. Debriding a wound is also something a WOC nurse will do, as well as working with other professionals to determine what other types of treatments might be required. When patients and caretakers need to learn how to clean their wounds and protect them from infection, the wound care nurse teaches them what they need to know and why it matters.

Most people think any nurse can clean and treat a wound, which is generally true, but complete wound care is a more specialized field of nursing. In order to be a wound care nurse, compassion is required. Everyone who works in this specialty should be very aware of the infection protocols for the facility where they work, and should also be able to work well with others to properly explain wound care to the patient and their caregivers when the patient leaves the hospital or other facility.

Wound care nurses can have sub-specialties, such as diabetic foot care, or they might simply work with all types of wounds and all kinds of patients. That is something they can decide as they move into the field, based on the demand for certain types of wound care nurses and their own goals and desires for a fulfilling career in the medical field. Most wound care nurses have started out in a more basic, traditional nursing role. Then they have cared for wounds in a surgical unit or other location and have determined that wound care is something they wanted to get into more thoroughly.

It is very uncommon for someone who just received their RN degree and license to go into wound care without experience in another area first. However, treating complex wounds requires the care of a certified medical professional, and WOC nurses must often advise their patients against self-treatment.

They must also stay informed of emerging home remedies so that they can educate their patients about how to properly use a product, or implement an alternate, more appropriate plan of care. Typically, before being discharged from the hospital or emergency room, a WOC nurse will review both the symptoms of infection and the procedures for continued care with the patient.

A WOC nurse may also recommend extended out-of-home treatment, such as a portable barometric wound healing vacuum. This device allows the wound to stay open but sealed to the outside environment. This makes it possible for patients with complex or chronic wounds to be physically active during the healing process, and they can very often go home after an initial treatment.

Many WOC nurses have several years of experience as a registered nurse RN and may also choose to pursue a specialized degree, or their master's in nursing MSN. For registered nurses and prospective nurses alike, WOC is a rewarding career specialty that allows you to play an instrumental role in both ensuring optimal patient care and guiding your patients to recovery.

Earning your BSN means you may also pursue graduate nursing programs to become even more qualified in your specialty and pursue job opportunities in management or leadership. Faith holds an MSN in nursing informatics.

She has experience in critical care, emergency room and oncology surgery. Faith is married and is soon expecting a new baby into the family. They need a nurse who is not only patient but also compassionate with them.

They need to communicate effectively and clearly to the family members. Additionally, they need to have the capacity to communicate well with other members of the treatment team. This is the first step toward becoming a wound care nurse. This is a standardized test that goes over eight essential areas of care. These areas include:. The RN exam has a minimum of 75 questions and a maximum of Wound care nurses also help educate and provide care instructions for patients and families.

Wounds often need continual care in order for the condition to properly heal. Wound care nurses teach patients and caregivers how to clean and dress wounds, and also what to look for in order to prevent any complications like infection. Wound care nurses might seem a little macabre. After all, who chooses to hang around open wounds all day? But those who specialize in it find the healing and treatment of our bodies fascinating — and rewarding.