Chronic wounds cause pain, infection and huge costs for health systems, and many are preventable. Tissue viability nurses (known as wound care or wound, ostomy and continence nurses in some countries) are the experts who lead prevention and treatment.
Imagine a man who has had the same leg ulcer for two years, with dressings changed three times a week. A tissue viability nurse checks his circulation, starts proper compression therapy and teaches the community team. Twelve weeks later, it’s healed.
What the role involves
- Assessing complex wounds, including pressure injuries, leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers and surgical wounds
- Choosing dressings, compression and advanced therapies
- Leading pressure injury prevention across wards and communities
- Teaching other nurses and carers
- Auditing, developing policy and managing wound care formularies
How to specialise
- Become a wound care or pressure ulcer link nurse
- Take university modules or courses in wound care
- Learn Doppler assessment and compression bandaging
- In the US, consider WOCN or other wound care certifications
But is it just about dressings?
No. The best wound care treats the cause: circulation, pressure, nutrition, diabetes control, infection and mobility. Tissue viability nurses think like detectives, and often save limbs.
Your next step: Ask your organisation’s tissue viability team if you can join them for a day, and volunteer as your area’s pressure ulcer prevention champion.
Sources: Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society, Tissue Viability Society (UK), European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, NICE guidance on pressure ulcers. This article is for general information.
Leave a Reply