Skin Integrity & Wound Care: Sherpath

Vocabulary flashcards covering assessment, prioritization, goals, and collaborative roles in skin integrity and wound care based on Sherpath lecture notes.

Impaired skin integrity

A focus on the dermis and epidermis layers of the skin; any damage to these layers is called this.

Impaired Tissue integrity

Damage to subcutaneous tissues, muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons.

Life-threatening priority

Issues addressed first in wound care if there is an internal or external hemorrhage or if organs are at risk.

ABC'S

Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (Respiratory and the Heart) take priority over skin integrity and wound hypotheses.

Acute wounds

Wounds resulting from surgery, an accident, or open wounds that are addressed before chronic issues.

Chronic wounds

Wounds such as a diabetic foot ulcer, stage $4$ pressure injury, or psoriasis, addressed after acute wounds.

Overall goals of care

Promote wound healing, maintain intact skin, prevent risks associated with specific alterations, and reduce pain level to $3$ or lower with treatment.

Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse (WOCN)

A specialist consulted for patients with deep, infected, non-healing wounds, pressure injuries, or incontinence.

Nutritionist / dietary aid

A professional consulted for specific diet needs required for wound healing.

Social worker

A professional who helps with community resources and financial assistance for wound care supplies.

Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP)

Staff who can perform transfers, position changes, and report skin changes, fever, or drainage, but cannot delegate assessment or evaluation.

Nurse Delegation Restrictions

The nurse cannot delegate assessing or evaluating skin integrity/wounds, nor can they delegate initial education.

Cochrane Library

A resource for wound care found at www.cochrane.org.

Wound & Ostomy & Continence Nurses Society

A professional resources for wound care found at www.wocn.com.

SMART method

The specific method used for developing expected outcomes and solutions for hypotheses.