Chronic Wound Dressing: A Gap in Nursing Knowledge

Running head: NURSING 1
Nursing
Name
Professor
Institution
Date
Gaps in My Knowledge

NURSING 2
The gap that I have identified in my nursing knowledge relates to the nursing and
midwifery professions. The gap in my nursing knowledge is the chronic wound dressing,
especially for venous leg ulcers. According to Nicol et al., (2012), examples of chronic wounds
are diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers and venous leg ulcers. I need to update my knowledge in
this nursing area. Venous ulcers are a common type of chronic wounds that are very distressing
for patients. They are also costly to health providers. Compression therapy is the most
recommended method of managing venous ulcers, through stockings and bandages. The dressing
should be applied below the stockings or bandages aiming to protect the wound and offer a wet
environment for quick healing of the wound (Lloyd, Hancock & Campbell, 2011).
Dressing for chronic wounds continues to be a significant challenge for me in my nursing
practice. Chronic wounds are difficult to manage and treat. Their treatment and management
require gaining an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology (Nicol et al., 2012). Also,
particular attention toward the management of chronic wounds and their perturbations often
results in successful healing. Upon assessing myself, I found that I lack the skills necessary for
addressing most types of chronic wounds. I need to gain knowledge on how to overcome factors
that can lead to delayed healing of chronic wounds and also present the primary challenge to
their treatment. This is a vital component of a comprehensive approach to chronic wound care
(McSherry, MSherry & Watson, 2012).
The Significance of the Gap
As a registered nurse, it is useful to have sufficient knowledge on the dressing,
management and treatment of chronic wounds. Chronic wounds or ulcers are those that do not
have timely healing progress (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). They are a significant