What does a Wound Care Nurse do?
Published 3 min read
A wound care nurse is a specialized nurse who provides care for patients with chronic or acute wounds. Wound care nurses work with patients to prevent and treat wounds, and to promote healing. They also educate patients and their families about wound care and provide support during the healing process.
Wound Care Nurse job duties include:
- Assess patients’ wounds and document the findings
- Clean and dress wounds according to protocol
- Debride necrotic tissue from wounds
- Apply negative pressure wound therapy
- Monitor patients for signs of infection
- Educate patients and families on wound care
- Collaborate with other members of the healthcare team to develop individualized care plans
- Keep accurate records of patient care
- Maintain a clean and well-organized work area
- Follow all infection control policies and procedures
Wound Care Nurse Job Requirements
A wound care nurse is a registered nurse who has specialized training in the care of wounds. They may have a certification in wound care, and they must have at least 2 years of experience working as a nurse.
Wound Care Nurse Skills
- Assessing and monitoring patients' wounds
- Cleaning and dressing wounds
- Providing wound care education to patients and caregivers
- Debridement
- Infection control
- Pain management
- Wound healing
- Use of wound therapies (e.g., negative pressure wound therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy)
- Documentation and charting
- Collaborating with other members of the healthcare team
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How to become a Wound Care Nurse
A wound care nurse is a registered nurse who has specialized training in the care of wounds. Wound care nurses work with patients who have chronic or acute wounds. They are responsible for assessing the wound, developing a plan of care, and providing wound care treatments.
To become a wound care nurse, you will need to complete a registered nursing program and obtain a license. Once you have your RN license, you can then pursue a specialty certification in wound care nursing. To be eligible for certification, you must have at least 2 years of experience working as a registered nurse and have completed a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education in wound care.
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