Arterial Leg Ulcers
True or false: you would expect a client with an arterial leg ulcer to have a strong pedal pulse
False. Pedal pulses tend to be weak or absent due to arterial insufficiency
True or false: venous leg ulcers are typically shallow and large in size.
True
What is the difference between eschar and slough?
Eschar is necrotic tissue that is usually black or brown (can be soft or hard), slough is necrotic tissue that is usually soft and yellow or grey
True or false: the symptoms of pain in patients with diabetes may be unreliable
True: patients with neuropathy may have decreased sensation or lack ability to feel pain in some areas
What are two lifestyle contributors to the development of an arterial ulcer?
1. Smoking
2. Malnutrition
3. Obesity
What are two lifestyle contributors to venous ulcers?
1. Obesity
2. Sedentary lifestyle
3. Immobility / working in occupations that require prolonged standing or sitting
How long does it take to become an NSWOC nurse?
About 1-2 years
What is the difference between calloused vs macerated periwound skin?
Calloused: dry and thick skin, can act as a protective reaction around a wound
Macerated: breakdown and softening of skin due to prolonged exposure to moisture
Calcium alginate - creates a moist environment and promotes autolysis
What is considered to be an effective intervention on the care of venous leg ulcers? (Hint: its something a patient needs to be assessed for)
Compression stockings: help to improve calf muscle pump function and decrease reflux in incompetent veins
What does it mean when a wound is classified as non-healable and how does it change the plan of care?
A non-healable wound is one that cannot heal because of insufficient blood supply to the wound bed, or due to irreversible causes or associated illnesses. Goals are to manage symptoms and prevent further deterioration of the wound.
True or false: when swabbing a wound for specimen collection, perform wound care before you take the swab.
True: any debris/pus is dead tissue, if a wound bed is infected, the microorganisms will be within the wound bed itself. In order to access the wound bed, cleanse the wound bed before collecting a sample.