Educating Caregivers on Best Practices to Promote Wound Healing

In this study, the authors (Holly Kirkland-Kyhn, PhD, FNP-BC, GNP-BC; Stephanie Anne Generao, MSN, NP; Oleg Teleten, MS, RN, CWCN; and Heather M. Young, PhD, RN, FAAN) aimed to help nurses provide tools to caregivers so that they can manage their family member’s health care at home.¹ This study (Teaching Wound Care to Family Caregivers: An Overview of Methods to use to Promote Wound Healing) was published in the January/February 2022 issue of Home Healthcare Now.

The authors provide simple and useful instructions they recommend nurses reinforce with family caregivers who perform wound care tasks. This allows the caregiver more autonomy in caring for patients after being discharged from the hospital. These wound types include surgical wounds, pressure injuries, and other chronic conditions, such as venous insufficiency. These wounds require skill and confidence when managing them, which the instruction is to help provide.

The authors note challenges caregivers face when performing at-home wound care. One of these challenges is the fear of making a mistake or harming their loved one. This challenge overshadowed concerns regarding time and inconvenience in the 66% of people who indicated wound care was difficult for them to learn. The study found that caregivers would benefit from more wound care-centered training and support.

In conclusion, it can be beneficial to patient outcomes if caregivers are given thoughtful education on wound care so that they can have a greater chance of promoting wound healing and preventing infection.

To read more about specific methods nurses use to educate caregivers, click here.

—Cat Urbanski, Associate Digital Editor

References

1. Kirkland-Kyhn H, Generao SA, Teleten O, Young HM. Teaching wound care to family caregivers: An overview of methods to use to promote wound healing. Home Healthc Now. 2022;40(1):8-13. doi:10.1097/NHH.0000000000001047