Wound management - a holistic approach

East Tamar Community Nurses work holistically in their assessment processes, forming strong partnerships with their clients and other health professionals in the care team.

Community Nursing worked with their client, Gary, on the wound he sought help with. They also supported him to identify and address underlying health conditions that were limiting his quality of life and were risk factors for his future health and well-being.

This is primary health nursing practice at its best: patient centred, focussed on health promotion, preventative health and collaboration.

George Town District Hospital and Community Health Centre - [email protected]

What did you do? What worked well?

When Gary’s wound failed to heal as we might have expected, we went back to basics, reassessed and looked at the whole picture.

With Gary’s permission, we brought in other key partners, such as specialist wound nurse and a general practitioner, to enable us to better support Gary.

Our work was patient centred. We worked at Gary’s pace until he was ready to take the next steps.

What did not work so well?  What lessons were learned?

With the wisdom of hindsight, a full reassessment of the reasons why the wound wasn’t healing could have happened sooner. We have now instituted a full reassessment in such cases.

We now engage partners in the care team earlier in the process.

What did the project achieve?  What’s the outcome, or impact?

This holistic approach benefited Gary and his family, both in healing the wound and enabling him to take control of some underlying health conditions and prevent future health issues.

How are the principles of Working in Health Promoting Ways reflected in your project?

Partnerships

Partnering with our client, the specialist wound care nurse and a general practitioner were key to this intervention’s success.

Engaging people

We engaged Gary in his own care, providing him with information and encouraging him to make choices about his own health and wellbeing, moving at his own pace.

Equity

Community Nursing is available to all of our community at a subsidised cost.

Systems change

Having seen the great health outcomes for Gary and his family, our team are committed to full annual reviews as part of a change in practice.

Evidence informed practice

We worked with the best evidence on wound healing which suggested there must be underlying barriers preventing healing.

How has working in health promoting ways benefited your team? And helped your clients?

Knowing we can make a difference and help someone to take control of their health and wellbeing beyond the presenting issue, is satisfying and encouraging for our team. For our client, not only did his wound heal, but he will have improved health and well-being in the future.