The development of a wound care learning resource for registered nurses caring for patients experiencing acute surgical wounds

Abstract

Surgical nursing practice is constantly changing due to the increasing complexity of surgical wounds; the increasing numbers and types of surgical wound care products, and the comorbidity, complexity and advancing age of surgical patients. Registered Nurses (RNs) need access to updated surgical wound care learning resources in the clinical setting. As the primary resource or RNs in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), the NL Skin and Wound Manual (2008) should reflect the best practice guidelines for skin and wound care management in Canada. The purpose of this practicum was to demonstrate advanced nurse practice competences by developing a surgical wound care learning resource for RNs caring for patients experiencing acute surgical wounds by updating Section 6.4 of the provincial manual with Canadian best practice guidelines for preventing complications from surgical wounds.