Verified Document

Nursing And Health Breakdown: Pre-Operative Case Study

" (Sussman and Bates-Jensen, 2007) Wounds that are classified as red, yellow and black are those that require examination of deep tissue involvement. (Sussman and Bates-Jensen, 2007) The wound must be monitored during the healing process since monitoring provides the means of "checking the wound on a regular and frequent basis for "signs and symptoms that should trigger a full reassessment, such as increased wound exudate or bruising of the adjacent or periwound skin. Included in monitoring is the "gross evaluation for signs and symptoms of wound complications, such as erthema (change in color) or periwound skin and pus, which is indicative of infection." (Sussman and Bates-Jensen, 2007) Included as well should be inclusive of progress toward healing of the wound including granulation tissue growth (red color) and reepithelization (new skin)." (Sussman and Bates-Jensen, 2007) Aseptic Technique of Wound Care

The Aseptic Technique of wound care is the method by which microbial contamination is prevented during invasive procedures or care of breaches in the skin's integrity." (ICNA, 2003, cited in: Calderdale and Huddersfield, NHS Foundation Trust, 2008) There are two types of aseptic techniques which are reported as being: (1) medical and (2) surgical in nature. (Calderdale and Huddersfield, NHS Foundation Trust, 2008) The aim of the medical aseptic technique is the reduction of the number of organisms as well as the prevention of the spread of the organisms in the hospital ward and other areas of treatment in the hospital. The surgical aseptic technique is reported to be a "…strict process" that is inclusive of procedures geared toward the elimination of micro-organisms from an area" by nurses as well as other health care workers. (Calderdale and Huddersfield, NHS Foundation Trust, 2008)

There are various causative factors in wound breakdown or the spread of infection. These are reported to include those of: (1) infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites); (2) a reservoir that supports the infectious agent allowing it to survive and multiply; (3) a portal of entry that allows the infectious agent to leave the reservoir; (3) a mode of spread (direct and indirect contact or via airborne droplets); (4) a portal of entry; and (5) a susceptible host. (Calderdale and Huddersfield, NHS Foundation Trust, 2008) The means for spread of infection are stated to be those of: (1) direct contact; (2) indirect contact; and (3) Dust particles or droplet nuclei suspended in the atmosphere." (Calderdale and Huddersfield, NHS Foundation Trust,...

Patient assessment is stated to include giving consideration to (1) social/environmental factors;
(2) Psychological factors;

(3) Previous experiences with dressings and wounds; and (4) Patient expectations. (Wound Academy Expert Forum, 2007)

Because this patient presented with a wound that is obviously infected the nurse will be required to notify the surgeon so that the surgeon can examine the wound and prescribe proper medications. The nurse will follow-up with the patient on a regular basis to monitor the wound's healing progress.

Summary and Conclusion

This work has related the information collected by the nurse during the preoperative assessment and the importance of collecting baseline data and the ethical and legal requirements that the nurse must ensure are met. This work has additionally explained the aseptic technique of wound care and the nursing intervention in the event the surgical wound develops infection.

References

Aseptic Technique (2008) Aseptic Technique. Section G. NHS Foundation Trust. Online available at: http://www.cht.nhs.uk/fileadmin/departments/infection_control/policies/Section_G_-_Aseptic_Technique_Issue_2.pdf

Burney, R.E. et al. (1997) Core Outcomes Measures for Inguinal Hernia Repair. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Vol. 185, Issue 6. Online available at: http://www.journalacs.org/article/S1072-7515%2897%2900108-7/abstract

Issues in Wound Care: Appropriate Use of Dressings. Report from a Wound Academy Expert Forum. Sponsored by the Molnlycke Health Care Wound Academy. September 2007. Online available at: http://www.molnlycke.com/Global/Wound_Care_Products/UK/Wound%20Academy/IssuesAppropriateusefinalSept07.pdf

Khan, Y. And Fitzgerald, P. And Walton, M. (1997) Assessment of the postoperative visit after routine inguinal hernia repair: A prospective randomized trial. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. Vol. 32, Issue 6. June 1997. Online available at: http://www.jpedsurg.org/article/S0022-3468%2897%2990644-8/abstract

Pudner, Rosemary (2005) Nursing the Surgical Patient. Elsevier Health Sciences 2005.

Sussman, Carrie and Bates-Jensen, Barbara M. (2007) Wound Care: A Collaborative Practice Manual. Point Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Series. 2007. Accessed online available at: http://books.google.com/books?id=CnOCWkSZ3BoC&dq=wound+care:+purpose+of+assessment&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Sources used in this document:
References

Aseptic Technique (2008) Aseptic Technique. Section G. NHS Foundation Trust. Online available at: http://www.cht.nhs.uk/fileadmin/departments/infection_control/policies/Section_G_-_Aseptic_Technique_Issue_2.pdf

Burney, R.E. et al. (1997) Core Outcomes Measures for Inguinal Hernia Repair. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Vol. 185, Issue 6. Online available at: http://www.journalacs.org/article/S1072-7515%2897%2900108-7/abstract

Issues in Wound Care: Appropriate Use of Dressings. Report from a Wound Academy Expert Forum. Sponsored by the Molnlycke Health Care Wound Academy. September 2007. Online available at: http://www.molnlycke.com/Global/Wound_Care_Products/UK/Wound%20Academy/IssuesAppropriateusefinalSept07.pdf

Khan, Y. And Fitzgerald, P. And Walton, M. (1997) Assessment of the postoperative visit after routine inguinal hernia repair: A prospective randomized trial. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. Vol. 32, Issue 6. June 1997. Online available at: http://www.jpedsurg.org/article/S0022-3468%2897%2990644-8/abstract
Sussman, Carrie and Bates-Jensen, Barbara M. (2007) Wound Care: A Collaborative Practice Manual. Point Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Series. 2007. Accessed online available at: http://books.google.com/books?id=CnOCWkSZ3BoC&dq=wound+care:+purpose+of+assessment&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Wound Care
Words: 8294 Length: 30 Document Type: Term Paper

Wound Care Chronic wounds represent a devastating health care problem with significant clinical, physical and social implications. Evidence suggests that consistent, meticulous and skilled care provides the primary means by which successful wound care and healing is promoted. The occurrence of wounds has plagued humankind throughout recorded history and remains a major source of morbidity and mortality in several disciplines of clinical medicine. Within this thesis, an effort will be made

Wound Care Wound a Wound
Words: 1640 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

In this regard, the documentation should include the four main assessment components; which are, nutrition, wound etiology, wound appearance and pain (Assessment and Documentation Issues in Wound Care). In other words a careful written as well as visual record should be kept of all the possible factors and variables relating to the patient's condition and to the progression or otherwise of the healing process. There are two further reasons that are

Wound Care Wound and Skin
Words: 3684 Length: 12 Document Type: Research Paper

This highlights the seriousness of the need for proper wound care in long-term care facilities, demonstrating the extent to which the nurse must define and provide oversight to standards in this area. What steps should be taken to ensure proper wound care? The first and most important aspect of ensuring that wound care is attended with proficiency is the provision of comprehensive training for nurse professionals. There are an array of

Wound Care Proper Wound Care
Words: 503 Length: 2 Document Type: Research Paper

Certification for wound care are available but wound care is not typically addressed as an area of specialization for nurses. There is a corresponding lack of wound care training for nurses in key fields including those who work with diabetics. Research shows that proper wound care can minimize complications related to lack of mobility including bed sores, and reduce the rates of amputations. Comprehensive wound care training is therefore

Chronic Wound Care: Nursing Assessment and Intervention
Words: 2926 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

Chronic Wound Care: Nursing Assessment And Intervention Chronic Wound Care: Nursing Assessment and Intervention Chronic Wound Care: Nursing Assessment and Intervention Chronic wounds are a challenge for both the clinician and the patient. For the nurse, issues of chronic wound care include the type of wound, the condition of the patient, and presence of infections, possible antibiotic therapy, and patient education on chronic wound care management. For the patient, issues revolve around how the

Wound Healing Quantitative Research Critique Vogt, Uhiyarik,
Words: 1305 Length: 4 Document Type: Article Critique

Wound Healing Quantitative Research Critique Vogt, Uhiyarik, & Schroeder (2007) conducted a study that compared Aquacel dressing vs. standard wound care for primary closed vascular surgical wounds. The results of the study found that there was no difference in length of stay in the hospital, complications, patient comfort, or healing time between the two wound care methods. The only difference was that the Aquacel dressing required fewer changes than conventional dressings, but

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now