Best practice in wound assessment

Abstract

Accurate and considered wound assessment is essential to fulfil professional nursing requirements and ensure appropriate patient and wound management. This article describes the main aspects of holistic assessment of the patient and the wound, including identifying patient risk factors and comorbidities, and factors affecting wound healing to ensure optimal outcomes.

Keywords: acute wound; chronic wound; exudate; holistic assessment; multidisciplinary working; pain; patient assessment; skin care; wound assessment; wound care; wound management.