Understanding the physiology of wound healing and holistic wound assessment.

Young, Carole

Why you should read this article: • To strengthen your understanding of wound healing physiology and risk factors for delayed healing • To read about an assessment framework that can support holistic wound assessments • To enhance your knowledge of wound care products and your ability to select the appropriate one. Approximately 3.8 million people in the UK are affected by acute or chronic wounds each year and it is essential that nurses are equipped with the knowledge and skills to assess and manage these patients. This article covers the main aspects that nurses need to consider to provide evidence-based care to patients with a wound, including skin anatomy, normal wound healing physiology and the factors that can delay healing. The author also discusses holistic wound assessment, including wound healing risk factors, wound bed preparation and wound management products, providing nurses with a practical overview of the complex topic of wound care.

EVIDENCE-based nursing; WOUNDS & injuries; WOUND healing; HOLISTIC medicine; RISK assessment; NURSING assessment; BANDAGES & bandaging; SKIN; WOUND care; SURGICAL dressings; HEMOSTASIS; INFLAMMATION; CHRONIC wounds & injuries; HEMORRHAGE

Nursing Standard, 2025, Vol 40, Issue 1, p41

0029-6570

Academic Journal

10.7748/ns.2024.e12182