Volume 56 - Issue 10 - October, 2010

Knowledge is Power

Thu, 10/14/10 - 12:59pm
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While people continue to debate — or argue in court — the need to reform health insurance coverage, the number of Americans going without it has increased substantially. In September, the US Census Bureau1 reported that the percentage of people without health insurance increased from 15.4% in 2008 to 16.7% in 2009. In real numbers, the situation is even more troubling.

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Wounds with Exposed Bone

Thu, 10/14/10 - 1:18pm
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Exposed bone may be present with a wide variety of wounds ranging from pressure and neuropathic ulcers to surgical wounds. As in care of wounds without exposed bone, the goals to keep in mind in treating a wound with bone exposure are maintaining aseptic technique, providing moist wound healing, and achieving optimum healing times — all without compromising bone integrity.

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The Clinical Benefits of Active Leptospermum Honey in Oncologic Wounds

Thu, 10/14/10 - 1:30pm
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A fungating tumor wound is characterized by ulcerations (breaks on the skin or organ surface) and necrosis (tissue death) and is usually accompanied by malodor as well as excess exudate, pain, and friable tissue.

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A Content-Validated Tool to Effectively Document Peristomal Skin Lesions

Thu, 10/14/10 - 1:47pm
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Peristomal skin disorders can lead to patient frustration and poor quality of life, making early intervention and effective management paramount. A recent cross-sectional study by Herlufsen et al¹ found that 45% of people with permanent stomas had peristomal skin disorders and 76% of these problems lasted more than 3 months.

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Tackling Stress Urinary Incontinence: The Resourceful Continence Nurse

Thu, 10/14/10 - 2:11pm
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Without a doubt, great strides have been made in recent decades in surgical intervention for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women. A wide variety of procedures exist — the vast majority involve one of several different pubovaginal (ie, in the vicinity of a woman’s pubis and vagina) slings. The name sling for this category of procedures comes from the sling-like shape of the hammock of muscles that forms the pelvic floor musculature and serves to support the pelvic organs, including the urethra.

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Nutrition Advice for Patients Living at Home

Thu, 10/14/10 - 2:24pm
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Each year, thousands of outpatients are treated at wound clinics and hospitals across the country. Most of these facilities do not have a registered dietitian (RD) on staff so it is up to the nurses and physicians who work in these settings to provide nutrition advice along with wound care treatment. Generalized recommendations such as “Eat a balanced diet” or “Make sure to eat enough protein” and a printed brochure are often all that is offered.

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