Revision wk 1-4

Moist Wound Healing

A healing environment where the wound is kept moist to support autolysis, debridement, epithelial migration, and transport of oxygen/nutrients; promotes faster healing and can reduce pain and scarring and infection risk compared with a dry wound.

ANTT (Aseptic Non-Touch Technique)

A method to prevent wound contamination by avoiding contact with critical wound areas or sterile fields while performing care.

Debridement

Removal of non-viable or devitalised tissue from a wound to promote healing; methods include surgical, sharp, mechanical, biological/larval, autolytic, and enzymatic.

Slough

Devitalised, often moist yellow tissue in a wound bed that impedes healing.

Necrosis

Dead tissue within a wound; non-viable and needs removal for healing.

Eschar

Thick, dry dead tissue, often black, that forms a covering over a wound.

Granulating tissue

New connective tissue and microvasculature filling a wound bed during healing.

Epithelialising tissue

New epithelial cells forming at wound edges, enabling wound closure.

Biofilm

A structured community of microorganisms encased in a protective matrix; more resistant to antibiotics and common in wounds (e.g., S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, β-hemolytic streptococci).

Contamination

Presence of non-replicating microorganisms on a wound surface.

Colonisation

Presence of replicating microorganisms on a wound without causing tissue damage.

Local infection / Critical colonisation

An intermediate stage with microbial replication and beginning local tissue responses.

Invasive infection

Replicating microorganisms within a wound causing host tissue injury.

Signs of infection

Pain, heat, redness, swelling, purulence; may include fever, leukocytosis, odour, delayed healing, friable tissue.

Bacterial wound swab technique

Clean the wound, avoid edges, rotate the swab in a zig-zag motion across the wound bed, then place the swab in the collection container.

Wound Bed Preparation (TIME)

TIME = Tissue management, Inflammation/Infection control, Moisture balance, Edge advancement.

Tissue management

Identify and remove non-viable tissue (slough, necrosis, eschar) and assess viable versus non-viable tissue to guide debridement.

Debridement methods (overview)

Surgical, sharp, mechanical, biological/larval, autolytic, and enzymatic approaches to remove non-viable tissue.

Moisture balance

Maintaining an optimal moisture level in the wound bed to support healing and control exudate.

Edge advancement

Proliferation and migration of epidermal cells from the wound edge to achieve epithelialisation and wound closure.

NPWT (Negative Pressure Wound Therapy)

A therapy applying controlled negative pressure to the wound to promote granulation and wound closure.

Growth factors

Biological signals that promote cell proliferation and tissue regeneration in wound healing.

Hydrogel dressings

Water-based dressings that rehydrate dry wounds and maintain a moist healing environment.

Hydrocolloid dressings

Moisture-retaining dressings that absorb modest exudate, support epithelialisation, and protect peri-wound tissue; may affect bacteria growth if overused.

Alginate dressings

Seaweed-derived dressings that are highly absorbent; form a gel with wound exudate and support moist healing.

Hydrofibre dressings

Absorbent wound dressings that expand as they absorb exudate, forming a gel-like matrix.

Foam dressings

Absorptive dressings suitable for moderate to high exudate; provide a moist environment and can be non-adherent.

Transparent film dressings

Semi-permeable coverings that maintain a moist surface, protect from external contamination, and allow vapor diffusion; not ideal for heavily exuding wounds.

Silicone dressings

Soft, conformable dressings that are atraumatic on removal and suitable for wounds with moderate exudate or infection control when appropriate antibiotics are used.

Non-adherent dressings

Dressings that do not stick to the wound bed to minimize trauma during dressing changes.

Hydration and exudate management

Balancing wound moisture and exudate to prevent desiccation or maceration, supporting efficient healing.

Wound assessment

Documentation of wound type, location, size, bed condition, signs of infection, pain, comorbidities, and adherence to treatment to guide care.

Hypergranulation (overgranulation)

Excessive granulation tissue that can impede epithelialisation and wound closure; may require management such as barrier dressings or debulking.

Acknowledgement of Country

A formal statement recognizing the traditional owners and custodians of the land where university campuses sit (e.g., Wadjuk, Yawuru, Cadigal).

Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT)

A nursing technique to prevent infection by avoiding contact with key parts of wound care equipment and maintaining asepsis.

Wound assessment

Systematic evaluation of a wound’s type, size, depth, tissue type, exudate, surrounding skin, and signs of infection to guide care.

Pressure injury

Localized damage to skin and/or underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence due to pressure, shear, or friction.

Pressure injury stages

Classification of pressure injuries by depth and tissue involvement (e.g., Stage 1–4, unstageable, deep tissue injury).

STAR Skin Tear Classification System

A classification system for skin tears with categories 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, and 3 based on tissue loss and realignment ability.

Category 1a (STAR)

Skin tear with edges realignable and skin colour not pale, dusky, or darkened.

Category 1b (STAR)

Skin tear with edges realignable and skin colour pale, dusky, or darkened.

Category 2a (STAR)

Skin tear with edges not realignable and skin colour not pale, dusky, or darkened.

Category 2b (STAR)

Skin tear with edges not realignable and skin colour pale, dusky, or darkened.

Category 3 (STAR)

Skin tear where the skin flap is completely absent.

ISTAP Skin Tear Classification

International Skin Tear Classification system defining Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 skin tears.

Type 1 (ISTAP)

No skin loss.

Type 2 (ISTAP)

Partial flap loss.

Type 3 (ISTAP)

Total flap loss.

Flap (skin tear)

A portion of skin (epidermis/dermis) that is unintentionally separated from its original position due to shear, friction, or blunt force.

Skin Tear

A traumatic wound caused by mechanical forces, including adhesive removal, with varying depth of tissue loss.

Wound edge

The boundary of a wound; assessment includes alignment, edges, and signs of undermining or tissue loss.

Wound measurement

Quantifying wound size (length, width, depth) for monitoring healing progress.

Surrounding skin condition

Condition of skin around the wound, including fragility, swelling, discolouration or bruising.

Aetiology

The cause or origin of a wound.

Wound location

Where on the body the wound is situated.

Hand hygiene

Practices to clean hands effectively to prevent infection before and after patient contact.

Documentation

Recording wound assessments, care actions, and progress in patient records.

Therapeutic communication

Communication strategies that support patient comfort, understanding, and engagement in care.

Clean vs sterile vs aseptic equipment

Clean: free from visible dirt; Sterile: completely free of microorganisms; Aseptic: free from pathogenic organisms and designed to prevent contamination.

Wound dressing

Materials applied to a wound to protect it, manage moisture, absorb exudate, and promote healing.

Medication Calculations

Process of calculating drug dosages and administration amounts accurately.

Medication Calculation Exam (Hurdle Task)

An assessment task testing the ability to perform medication calculations under exam conditions.

Medication safety

Practices to prevent harm from medicines by safe prescribing, dispensing, and administration.

Medication error

A preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm.

Near-miss event

An incident that could have caused harm but did not, used to improve safety.

Medication rights

A set of checks to ensure safe administration: right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation, and right reason.

TallMAN lettering

A typographic technique using selective capitalization to differentiate look-alike medication names.

LASA medicines

Look-Alike Sound-Alike medicines that are at risk of being confused due to similar names.

Barcode scanning

Using barcodes to verify patient and medication to prevent administration errors.

Independent double checks

Two qualified health professionals independently verify high-risk medications before administration.

APINCHS

High-risk medication categories: Antimicrobials, Potassium/electrolytes, Insulin, Narcotics, Chemotherapeutic agents, Heparin/anticoagulants, and other high‑risk drugs.

High-risk medications

Medicines with a heightened risk of causing significant harm if misused; require extra safeguards.

Medication safety strategies

Methods such as independent checks, barcode scanning, standardised order sets, and standard medication charts.

Medication storage rules

Medications stored in locked areas, in their original containers, with keys kept separate, to minimize error.

Cold chain management

Maintaining vaccines and certain medicines within specified temperatures from storage to administration.

Vaccine storage temperature range

Temperature range specified for vaccines; notes list +20°C to +80°C with an ideal target (as stated in notes).

Color coding for injectable labeling

Using colors on labels to indicate route and target tissue for injectable medicines.

Routes of administration

Ways medications can be given: oral (PO), intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC), inhalation, ophthalmic, rectal, topical, enteral, and via nasogastric tube (NGT).

Dose form abbreviations

Release/form designations such as XR (extended release), MR (modified release), ER (extended release), CR (controlled release), etc.

Dose calculation

Formulaic method to determine the amount to administer based on dose ordered and stock strength.

Lifespan pharmacokinetics

How drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion vary across age groups (children to older adults) requiring dose adjustments.

Pediatric and geriatric dosing

Dose adjustments due to developmentally or age-related physiological changes.

Medication literacy

The patient’s ability to understand and use medication information safely.

Consumer Medicines Information (CMI)

Written information provided with medicines describing usage, risks, and benefits.

AusDI and Australian Injectable Drug Handbook

Australian drug information resources detailing indications, contraindications, adverse effects, precautions, and dosing.

Reconstitution and diluent

Preparing a powdered medication by adding a diluent to create a usable solution.

Labeling of syringes

Applying clear labels to syringes with drug name, dose, and other details to prevent errors.

Indication/Contraindication/Precautions/Adverse effects

Key drug information elements describing when to use, when not to use, safety notes, and potential side effects.

NPS MedicineWise/CMI references

Sources of patient information and professional guidance cited in medication safety discussions.

Pharmacist and nurse roles in administration

Scope of practice considerations emphasizing supervision for learners and appropriate delegation.

Practice and accountability in medication safety

Ongoing education, evidence-based practice, incident reporting, and quality improvement to improve safety.

Common medication routes and devices labeling

Labeling practices for various administration routes (oral, injectable, etc.) and devices (IV lines, syringes) to prevent mix-ups.

Acknowledgement of Country

Formal recognition of the traditional owners of the land (e.g., Wadjuk, Yawuru, Cadigal) on which the university sits.

Rehabilitation

Restoration of a person to normal or near-normal function after illness, injury, or other impairment.

Synonyms for rehabilitation

Recovery; restoration; reconstruction; repair; recuperation; improvement; renewal.

In-reach

An early rehabilitation service embedded in acute care, starting rehab within the hospital via a reaching-in MDT approach.

Inpatient rehabilitation

Rehabilitation provided during a hospital stay in a stand-alone or co-located sub-acute setting with MDT input.

Outreach

Rehabilitation provided outside a dedicated unit using hub-and-spoke, consultative or collaborative models.

Ambulatory care / Outpatient

Discipline-specific rehabilitation provided in an outpatient setting.

Day hospital

A comprehensive MDT rehabilitation program delivered in an outpatient setting, often involving multiple disciplines.