Wound Care
Wound Care questions and answers
Learn About What Are The Best Products For Wound Care.
Q: Can you work wound care and physical therapy in a hospital?
Im going to school for Physical therapy technician/Wound car tech.... would i be able to work as a wound care tech and a physical therapy tech at the same time in a hospital, and possibly get a higher salary or pay?
A: I use to work at a hospital (UT Medical Center, Knoxville) and there were PT/WCT that took the patient to Whirlpool to change bandages and do wound care etc. I don't know what the pay was like. I hoped this helped. Good luck!
Q: what is the pay of a Wound Care technican?
would anyone know, cause im going to school for a physical therapy technician/ wound care, and also would it be better to work in a doctors office or a hospital?
A: This is actually decided by labor union negotiation. You could try contacting your department of labor to see if they have current salary levels on file that compare to what you're looking for.
Q: Does anybody work in a wound care center?
I have a wound from a sebaceous cyst removal on my chest. I had it removed three months ago. The wound will heal then about a week later it forms a ball of pus under the wound and will ooze out. I have been back to the surgeon but he keeps saying that it is probably just infected. I have had it cauterized, had dissovable stitches taken out and have been on antibiotics but it still will go back and forth with the wound being healed then opening back up. I made an appointment at a wound care center, but they can not see me for another two weeks. I was just wondering if somebody worked in a wound care center what do they think could be the problem or what would the doctor probably do when I go to see them. I just need some info to calm my nerves until my appointment in two weeks. Thanks.
A: I hope that your wound will be cultured (some drainage sent to the lab) to see if you may have a MRSA (methicillin resistant staph aureus) infection. If it is MRSA, you will need certain antibiotics. It's a bacteria that has become resistant to many antibiotics. You may wish to schedule an appointment with your family physician (hopefully he/she could see you sooner than 2 weeks) to discuss culturing the wound.
Q: For those in the medical field, can you direct me to a site on wound care to develop a protocol?
I am on a committee at work to develop a wound care policy. Anyone have any ideas where I can start. I am not too computer savvy. Thanks in advance for any ideas you might have.
A: Manuka Honey is now being used for wound care because of it's antibacterial properties. Check the links below.
Q: Does anybody work in a wound care center or have been treated at a wound care center?
I have a wound from a sebaceous cyst removal on my chest. I had it removed three months ago. The wound will heal then about a week later it forms a ball of pus under the wound and will ooze out. I have been back to the surgeon but he keeps saying that it is probably just infected. I have had it cauterized, had dissovable stitches taken out and have been on antibiotics but it still will go back and forth with the wound being healed then opening back up. I made an appointment at a wound care center, but they can not see me for another two weeks. I was just wondering if somebody worked in a wound care center what do they think could be the problem or what would the doctor probably do when I go to see them. I just need some info to calm my nerves until my appointment in two weeks. Thanks.
A: I am a Physical Therpist and have worked and continue to work with wounds and wound care. The wound definitely seems infected from the way you describe it, most wounds are to certain extents. Your body is simply fighting the infected areas of the wound and creating slough and exudate which are terms that describe the drainage. A good thing to remember is anything yellow, brown, green or black is bad stuff and pink and light red are good healthy areas of tissue. I would let them know at the wound care center if you become more tender or increase in pain in that area of your chest around the wound or see a noteable increase in redness surrounding the wound (usually a pretty sizable area). They might bump you up in this case, don't be afraid to voice your concerns to them. Other than that wound care is straight forward. I would recommend a Physical Therapist to do the wound care. We are specially trained in this area and can do what is called sharp debridement, or removal of the pus and other bad areas using a scapel etc. This is by far the best removal of that pus and infected tissue and greatly enhances the healing of a wound. It usually has no pain at all because it is all dead tissue but there can be some discomfort. Nurses also do wound care but are not allowed to do sharp debridement. The doctor will probably refer you to a PT or nurse that does wound care and you'll see them for a few weeks depending on the size, depth, amount of drainage of the wound. Wound care is very effective with the use of silver (antimicrobial and very effective in cleaning a wound) and many many other tools ranging from debridement to other topical treatments (enzymatic debridement, pulsed lavage, wound vac). It all depends on your situation. In the meantime keep it clean with sterile saline and cover with gauze 4x4's. Change it everyday and keep an eye on it. Don't let it dry out if it is an open wound but don't let it get to moist from to much drainage. You will be fine for the two weeks but let them know if the wound changes. There is no point in being uncomfortable just because they don't have an appt. for you. They'll be able to fit you in if you have problems.
Q: how does Aromatherapy work in wound care?
i need to know how Aromatherapy works in wound healing?
A: Can you clarify...are you wondering about the inhalation of essentials oils and the effect on healing or are you wondering about the application of essentials oils on a wound?
Q: Does anyone know why a wound care doctor has to keep removing the layers of skin that are healing?
This wound had an infection and seemed to be healing properly, but each time the person goes back they remove the skin again...
A: Dead and necrotic tissue has to be debrided since it is a focus for infection and a hindrance to the growth of viable tissue as it granulates in to cover the wound. I doubt they are removing healthy normal tissue.
Q: What topical wound care product do you like best?
I'm looking for a cream-like or gel ointment to put on cuts and scrapes on my horse. I'd like it to be antiseptic/antibiotic (honestly I'm not sure the practical difference between the two) and able to stay on relatively well in a pasture setting. What do you personally use or like best?
A: The research on wound treatment has led to recommendations that don't include use of most antibiotic ointments since they produce an immune rejection response that slows healing. The first response should be to flush any new wound with 0.9% sterile saline which you can buy at any drug store. The salt in saline dehydrates and kills bacteria, and the flushing debrides the wound and also drowns other microbes. This solution is isotonic, meaning it is balanced with body fluids and won't
kill healthy cells needed for healing the way harsh chemicals like iodine or hydrogen peroxide do. When healthy calls are killed, they become food for bacteria and encourage infection, and slow the healing process.
I prefer EMT ointment which is a collagen gel that adheres well, seals off sensory nerve ends to kill pain and itching, and seals out insects and debris. It is amazing for wounds and for lesions like rain rot and mud fever. Farnam also has a water based gel called hydrogel that is supposed to be very good, but I haven't used it myself yet. EMT can be found online or at tractor and farm supply stores.
Either will speed healing and prevent proud flesh and scarring.
The initial saline rinse is the most important treatment. You can use a syringe or squeeze bottle and use moderate pressure to do the flush.
Q: How do you use the wound care product Aquacel correctly?
I work at a nursing home and there is a large argument about proper use of this product. I went to a siminar for this and was told to slightly moisten the product befor use and not let it lay on good tissue. Is this correct?
A: #1 : The orders for the product should give some guidance.
In general...
1) apply a barrier such as Proshield around the OUTSIDE of the
wound. This will protect the skin.
2) cut the Aquacel to just slightly larger than the wound
3) place in wound
4) moisten with DROPS of sterile saline, this will cause the
Aquacel to shrink (hence #2)
5) cover as ordered
Q: I am interested in becoming Wound Care nurse. What is the requiremnets to acheiving this?
I spent 9 months working along a well known NP who specialized in Wound care in Plastic Surgery.
A: Becoming a RN is the first basic step to becoming a wound care nurse.
But after becoming a RN, you'll find that wound care nursing is a specialty in itself. Sure, as a RN, you'll be caring for lots of wounds, but to become an actual wound care nurse, you'll need lots of additional experience as well as courses in the subject - there is so much to learn about healing all kinds of wounds. To become a specialist in this, you can go and get a certification in the area - to do this, you'll need your BSN, and then usually a minimum of 2 yrs working in the field as well as additional courses.
In addition to a certification, you'll need to keep going to seminars specifically on wound care to keep up with the latest products and techniques. It can become a great career and you'll be in great demand as a resource for other nurses. You could also go on and get your Master's degree in nursing in this area - become a NP yourself.
Q: What is the first step in becoming a Wound Care Nurse?
Do you have to be a Registered Nuse? What's the best web site to look for more information.
A: Yes you need to be an RN. Contact the American Nursing Asscn.
Q: Where can i find honey wound care dressings for a bed sore of a wheelchair user?
Hi
Looking for a dressing that has honey inbeded in it for a bed sore I use a wheelchair and have everthing. Thanks
A: I would suggest to buy your own Honey. Make sure though that it is Manuka honey. Manuka honey is the most potent and has the greatest natural antibiotic properties. You can buy Manuka honey online as it is from New Zealand.
Heres an article about a woman in the United States. She is using honey to heal wounds similar to the ones you describe. Her initial findings on how this works is wonderful.
This article has some good facts about honey and explains a bit about how it works to cure infection as well.
Honey Therapy Could Give Diabetics Hope when Facing Possible Amputations
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/236321/honey_therapy_could_give_diabetics.html
Q: what are the actual benefits of hyperbaric wound care?
Is it worth the time (two hours daily), the effort, and the expense?
A: the research is good. I have seen some good results. It is safe. Talk to the doctor and find out what the alternatives are. What have you already tried?
http://www.wound.com/wcenter.html
http://www.medicaledu.com/hbo2.htm
http://www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/band133/b133-5.html
http://www.springerlink.com/content/v0l067511l1u4848/
Q: Can a nursing assistant perform wound care?
This was for a patient that had a stage 4 decubitis ulcer on her foot who was diabetic.
A: We allow our nursing assistants to do superficial wound care as in a new cut, abrasions, etc. If it is a deep wound as in a decubiti, the nurse needs to evaluate the size and depth and extent of healing and they usually do this kind of wound care themselves.
Q: What is a primary dressing and secondary dressing in wound care?
A: Primary - the gauze or pad that is actually on top of the wound.
Secondary - the wrap or tape that holds it in place.