Working as a practical nurse (PN) allows you to showcase your skills in a fast-paced environment while helping patients feel better. A practical nurse is counted on by the rest of their healthcare team to tackle a range of different responsibilities within their workplace, including treating wounds. At Prism Career Institute, we offer a practical nursing program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, that helps students develop important career skills, like wound care. Here, we explore some wound care best practices that practical nurses should know.
What Is Wound Care?
Wound care is the process of tending to wounds to prevent infections, pain, or further health complications. The process, when done by medical professionals, involves the diagnosis of the wound, creating a treatment plan based on the wound type, and managing the wound until it heals. The severity of the wound may require further medical attention, which is why any serious wounds should be looked at by professionals.
Wound Care Tips PNs Should Know
There are many different types of wounds, and their treatment will vary greatly depending on the type, severity, and location. Practical nurses need to be well-versed in wound care so that they can quickly and effectively treat them. Some important tips they’ll need to know include:
Follow Important Rules and Regulations
In most cases, PNs will need to be supervised by an RN (Registered Nurse) or a physician while performing wound care tasks. To prevent legal issues, it’s wise to speak with your supervisor and make sure you’re not performing tasks that are outside of the limits of your position.
Use the HEIDI Mnemonic
Before attempting to perform wound care, you need to better understand the patient’s condition. Using the HEIDI mnemonic will allow you to quickly assess the situation to formulate the best treatment solution. The mnemonic includes the following steps:
- History: Knowing the patient’s medical history can help you avoid using treatment methods that may cause complications. Whether it is the cause of the injury or any medications they are currently taking, these details can make a difference.
- Examination: Thoroughly look over the wound and the surrounding area. This can help you determine the severity.
- Investigation: On occasion, testing may be helpful or even necessary to determine the best course of action. Consulting with an RN or a doctor can help decide if diagnostic imaging, blood work, or tissue samples should be ordered.
- Diagnosis: Different wounds require different treatment plans, so it’s important that PNs and their supervisors determine the type of wound. Open wounds come in four different types, including abrasions, punctures, lacerations, and avulsions. While abrasions can often be treated at home, any wounds involving blood loss, deep cuts, torn skin, or internal organs need to be treated professionally.
- Implementation: Once you’ve diagnosed the wound, it’s time to put the appropriate, approved treatment plan into action.
As you go through this mnemonic, make sure to consult a superior if you have any questions or concerns. Doing so can make a big difference in the patient’s well-being and can prevent improper treatment from creating greater complications.
Don’t Ignore the Details
While life in a medical environment can be fast-paced, it’s important that PNs don’t neglect details. Make sure you perform precise measurements when necessary and make a record of anything note-worthy regarding the wound and the overall interaction.
Communicate Effectively
As is the case with any position in the medical field, effective communication is key. This involves communication with your patients as well as your colleagues. Connecting with a patient can help them feel at ease and allows you to address any of their questions or concerns. Communicating with doctors, nurses, and other staff members helps avoid hiccups or delays in the treatment process, which can help save lives and avoid legal ramifications.
Our Practical Nursing Program
At Prism Career Institute, we pride ourselves on our outstanding instructors and in-depth curriculum. For those interested in becoming a practical nurse, our program provides a comprehensive study of this position, helping you learn clinical responsibilities like wound dressing, advanced wound care, as well as the administrative tasks that are integral to the job.
Our daytime classes take approximately 63 weeks to complete, but we also offer a 70-week evening/weekend schedule for those with busy weekdays. We ensure that you learn everything you need to know by combining classroom lectures with practical laboratory training. Once you’ve completed the program, you may be eligible to apply to the Pennsylvania or New Jersey State Board of Nursing to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN).
Enroll in Practical Nursing Today
If you love helping people, working as a practical nurse may be right for you. Prism Career Institute’s Practical Nursing program in Philadelphia, PA, or Cherry Hill, NJ will help you take the first step toward this thrilling career. We’ll provide you with the knowledge and skills training you’ll need to perform wound care and other duties in the workplace. Contact us to learn more or apply online today.