Djuró, K & Gibson, R. Nurses’ experience of wound care. A literature review.

Degree Project in nursing 15 credit points, Malmö university: Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Care Science, 2021.

Background: Nursing care aims to provide comfort and reduce suffering through interventions seeking to support, maintain and if possible, regain patient abilities. As such, wound care is an essential part of nursing and occupies a large part of nurses’ work. An aging population with increased comorbidity is at higher risk of developing wounds. Hence, the need for wound care might increase. Highlighting the nurse's role and the importance of an understanding of underlying factors affecting wound care.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate and describe registered nurses' experience of wound care in different healthcare settings.

Method: A literature review with qualitative study design based on 12 scientific articles, located using a systematic search of two different databases. The articles were compiled and analyzed using content analysis.

Result: Four main themes emerged, supported by 11 subthemes, depicting the registered nurses’ experience: The importance of competence and good qualities, Organizational factors matter, A holistic approach, key to adequate wound care, and The Challenges of handling psychological effects.

Conclusion: Registered nurses experienced organizational support and guidelines as key factors, directly or indirectly impacting wound care. Teamwork and patient-centered care were highlighted as facilitators and nurses’ responsibility to ‘do good’, could leave them feeling overwhelmed. Nurses’ knowledge is more practical than evidence-based, and it can be lacking, underlining the need for further wound care education.

Keywords: Experience, Nurses, Wound care, Qualitative research