Wound Assessment

Course Overview

This Course further the components of, and increases skills in, performing a systematic, standardised, accurate assessment of local wound characteristics.

Topics

• Characteristics of a comprehensive wound assessment
• Standards for wound management
• Measuring wound dimensions
• Evaluating wound progress

Need

A comprehensive assessment of wound characteristics is a fundamental component of wound management. It includes wound dimensions, exudate quantity and quality, wound tissue type, odour, pain, wound edge and surrounding skin. A thorough, systematic wound assessment contributes to determining wound aetiology and severity, is the basis upon which treatments and wound dressings are determined and allows progress to be measured. Whilst health professionals are required to assess and record wound characteristics, many have never received formal training regarding how to do this.

Texts often list the components of a wound assessment, but frequently lack description regarding those components. This can lead to health professionals making varied and sometimes inaccurate assessments of wound characteristics. Using systematic, standardised wound assessment methods based on an informed, sound understanding of wound characteristics promotes reliability and confidence in wound assessment, leading to better decision making regarding wound management and ultimately improved outcomes for patients.

Purpose

The purpose of this Course is to enhance knowledge and skills in regards to assessment of wounds. The focus is on undertaking a comprehensive and accurate assessment of local wound characteristics.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify the characteristics that are included in a comprehensive wound assessment
• Describe the various clinical presentations of each wound characteristic
• State how to evaluate wound progress
• Describe how to accurately measure wound dimensions

Target Audience

This Course is relevant to registered nurses and other health professionals working in all clinical areas due to the necessity of accurate wound assessment skills.

Disclosure

No conflict of interest exists for anyone in the position to control content for this activity. Wherever possible, generic or non-proprietary names of medications or products have been used.

Educator

Sue Templeton

Sue Templeton works as the Nurse Practitioner: wound management for RDNS SA. Sue has worked in wound management since 1987 and has extensive clinical experience managing a variety of acute and chronic wounds. Sue provides clinical consultancy services, develops and delivers wound management education, and is involved in the development of wound management tools, policies, and procedures. Sue has been involved in AWMA/Wounds Australia at a national and local level for a number of years. Sue has undertaken clinical research and published and presented locally, nationally, and internationally. Sue has been involved in the development of several national and international guidelines and is active in a number of state and national committees. Sue is passionate about improving the lives of people with a wound and empowering others to deliver best practice in wound management. See Educator Profile