Implementation of Wound Care Policy in Line with Key Area 6 of Public Health Policy - Outline Example

MSc PUBLIC HEALTH Policies and Issues in Public Health Implementation of Wound Care Policy in line with Key Area 6 of Public Health Policy: Action Plan Samantha ----, RN MSc PUBLIC HEALTH Table of contents Background………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Proposed Objectives……………………………………………………………………….. 3 Brief Synopsis of Wound Care Policy…………………………………………………….. 4 Overview of Nurses Compliance………………………………………………………….. 5 Outline of Hindrances…………………………………………………………………….. 5 Suggested Initiatives……………………………………………………………………… 6 Expected Benefits………………………………………………………………………… 6 References………………………………………………………………………………… 7 Appendix 1: Summary Guide in Routine Wound Management………………………….. 8 Appendix 2: Guidelines in Tetanus Immunization……………………………………….. 8 Appendix 3: Different Solutions in Wound Dressing…………………………………….. 9 Background The human bodies deals with open wounds as a result of injuries and diseases (History of Wound Care 2007). In Egypt, pressure ulcers were found on mummy ages 5,000 years. An attempt to cover wound infection when an individual develops open wound by growth and migration of epithelial cells was reported; however, parasites commonly found in infected wounds consequently explains why the natural method of healing becomes a slow process in wound care (History of Wound Care 2007). On the other hand, management of the wound by the health care practitioners through cleansing and removal creates a moist environment for the wound. Furthermore, application of local dressing and dead tissue removal assists the slow natural method of healing. Although natural healing is an accepted method in wound care, skin cover is fragile and thin that makes the wound liable to break down resulting to further ulcer formation (History of Wound Care 2007). In the 19th century, skin grafting was developed by physicians to remove the healthy skin from one area to cover a non healing open wound, thereby decreasing the amount of time where the wound is exposed to microorganisms. Wound, defined as the injury of skin, is caused by tearing, scraping, and cutting of the skin (Upstate Medical University 2004). Dix (2006) stated that approach to wound care is diversified and unique considering that chronic or acute wounds come in different shapes and sizes. Wound care approach also requires treatment of underlying condition and comorbidity (Dix 2006). The Proposed Objectives are: (1) To outline the wound dressing guidelines in relation to the key area six of the Public Health Policy, by protecting the publics health by applying range of methods that include hazard identification, risk assessment and the promotion, and implementation of appropriate interventions to reduce risk and promote health (The Faculty of Public Health 2009). (2) To give emphasis on the role of nurses in promoting wound care and to prevent untoward effects such as ulceration of the wound in accordance to the code of conduct of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2009). (3) To study the contributing factors to poor wound care compliance among the nurses with the aim of learning new ways of proper wound care practice. Based on the outlined objectives, proper training of the public health nurses will be significant in the future planning and implementation of proper wound care among the public health nurses and its policy makers. A Brief Synopsis of Wound Care Policy in relation to the key area 6 of the Public Health Faculty (2009) In connection with the key area 6 of the Faculty of Public Health (2009) that focuses on the practice of protecting the public health from environment hazards through the application of range of methods that includes identification of hazards brought about by wound infection, risk assessment and to promote and implement appropriate interventions, it is expected that wound care will be given importance by public health nurses by practicing guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2006). Furthermore, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007) noted that health care professionals must give importance on the potential threats commonly encountered by patients with open wounds. To prevent this, the patient must seek immediate medical attention so that medical intervention will be given. Also, early intervention of having large scale problems on wound management can be effectively intervened through early assessment and management of contaminated and clean wound (Appendix 1). An overview of the nurses’ compliance in minimising wound infection line with key area 6 of public health faculty to promote health and well – being with minimal risk of doing harm. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2009) reminds registered nurses on their duty to engage themselves as partners of care as well as to provide care to the clients’ maintenance of their own personal care. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2009) further reminds registered nurses to practice holistic and systematic assessment of the needs of their clients and to develop comprehensive nursing care plan that is of best interest of the client and to promote health and well – being with minimal risk of doing harm. It follows that in wound care management, knowledge on different solutions used during dressing of wound, its preparations and its side effects to the tissues must be noted by the nurse health practitioners (Appendix 2). In wound dressing, Semer (2003) noted that different dressing solutions and its preparation must be known by the nurse practitioner who performs wound dressing to prevent untoward reaction of the solution. An outline of the key hindrances to the effectiveness of wound care highlighted in previous studies Table: A brief overview of key hindrances to compliance with wound care practices Type of Study/Author Key Hindrances Investigative Study (Thomas 2008) Ineffective control of moisture content of the skin Research – based Practice (Sturkey et al 2005) Ineffective assessment, planning, and implementation of Wound Care Program Quasi-experimental design (Sinclair et al 2004) Lack of knowledge on pressure ulcer intervention, risk assessment, prevention, and staging Consensus Statement (Ferris et al 2007) Multiple concurrent issues such as lack of knowledge, care and affection that delays wound healing are not properly addressed Suggested Initiatives After evaluating the results of various studies made on effective wound care practice, the most recurrent barrier to an effective wound care practice remains to be the lack of knowledge on proper assessment, staging, prevention and treatment of wound (Sinclair et al 2004). The aforementioned factors delay wound healing process once it is improperly addressed (Ferris et al 2007). Yet, as described in Nursing and Midwifery Council (2009), effective nurse practices emphasises on the holistic and systematic assessment of wound staging and proper management of their clients. Hence, effective practice of wound care requires an appropriate knowledge on wound care management as exemplified by Ferris et al (2007) in their study that lack of knowledge delays wound healing. Expected benefits One can assert that proper knowledge on wound care management among the nursing staff produces a remarkable impact in reducing problems encountered during wound care practices and wound treatment. Hence, the quality of life of every client suffering from delayed wound healing is consequently addressed. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006, Emergency Wound Care After a Natural Disaster, Available at: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/woundcare.asp (Accessed 09 Feb 2009). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007, Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Wound Infections, Available at: http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000420/p0000420.asp (Accessed 09 Feb 2009). Dix, K. 2006, Wound Care, Available at: http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/articles/651feat5.html (Accessed 07 Feb 2009). Faculty of Public Health (2009) Key Area 6: Health protection, Available at: http://www.fphm.org.uk/training/curriculum/learning_outcomes_framework/KA6.asp (Accessed 10 Feb 2009) Ferris, F., Khateib, A., Fromantin, S., 2007, ‘Palliative Wound Care’, Journal of Palliative Medicine, 10 (2007), 9994 ‘History of Wound Care’, 2007, Available at: http://www.proxiderm.com/html/intro2.html (Accessed 08 Feb 2009) Minnesota Department of Health, 2007, Summary Guide to Tetanus Prophylaxis in Routine Wound Management, Available at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/tetanus/hcp/tetwdmgmt.html (Accessed 08 Feb 2009). Semer, N., 2003, The HELP Guide to Basics of Wound Care, Available at: http://www.global-help.org/publications/books/help_basicwoundcare.pdf (Accessed 10 Feb 2009) Sinclair, L, Berwiczonek, H, Thurstaon, N., Butler, S., Bulloch, G., Ellery, C., Giesbrecht, G. 2004, ‘Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Education Program for Pressure Ulcer Prevention’, Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 31(1), 43-50. Sturkey, E., Linker, S, Kieth, D., Comeau, E. 2005, ‘Improving Wound Care Outcomes in the Home Setting’, Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 20(4), 349 – 355. The Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2007, Essential Skill Clusters for Pre – registration Nursing Programs, Available at: http://www.nmc-uk.org/aFrameDisplay.aspx?DocumentID=4616 (Accessed 09 Feb 2009). Thomas, S., 2008, ‘The role of dressings in the treatment of moisture-related skin damage’, Electronic Wound Care Journal, 1369-2607 Upstate Medical University, 2004, Wound Care, Available at: http://www.upstate.edu/uhpated/pdf/dry_sterile_dressing.pdf (Accessed 07 February 2009) Appendix 1: Summary Guide to Tetanus Prophylaxis in Routine Wound Management (Minnesota, Department of Health, 2007). Appendix 2: Guidelines in Tetanus Immunization (Semer, 2003). Appendix 3: Different Solutions in Wound Dressing (Semer, 2003). Read More