This article looks at some case reports undertaken during a community initiative, which explored the importance of regularly
reassessing patients’ support surface needs in relation to their general wellbeing, comfort and personal relationships on a long-term basis. The comfort and dignity of patients who are prescribed longterm specialist dynamic mattresses is discussed through real patient stories. The importance of both involving and educating patients and their carers on pressure ulcer identification and preventation is also shown through this community initiative.
Community nurses often work in isolation and are not always able to attend best practice updates in venous leg ulcer treatment. As a result, they do not always possess the up-to-date knowledge and skills to manage these patients. This project reached out to local ways of delivering compression therapy; in this case an adjustable Velcro compression device, juxtacures (juxtacures®; medi UK). The juxtacures range is designed to be simple to apply with a built-in pressure system that allows the nurse to accurately monitor the level of compression being applied to the limb. This ensures a therapeutic level of compression is maintained. The authors felt and skill level in compression bandaging. The aims of the project were to reduce the amount and duration of community nursing visits to patients with venous leg ulcers while ensuring that safe, visits to patients with lower limb problems, with some patients successfully discharged to self-manage their lower limbs.
In her sixth article, Rosie Pudner describes the use of several post-operative dressings used in wound management.
Rosie Pudner BA (Hons), RGN, RCNT, DipN.Ed, Dip.App.S.S. (Open) is a Senior Lecturer – Tissue Viability, Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences, Kingston University and St George’s Hospital Medical School, London.
Article accepted for publication June 2001.
Ian Pomfret discusses the use of anaesthetic gel in catheterisation.
Ian Pomfret, RGN NDN is a Continence Advisor, Chorley and South Ribble
Primary Care Trust, Lancs.
Article accepted February 2001.
Rosie Pudner discusses the use of foam, hydrocellular and hydropolymer dressings in every day clinical practice.
Rosie Pudner BA (Hons), RGN, RCNT, DipN.Ed, Dip.App.S.S. (Open) is a Senior Lecturer - Tissue Viability, Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences, Kingston University and St George’s Hospital Medical School, London.
Article accepted for publication
August 2001.
Linda Readding discusses the types of stoma appliances available to patients and looks at the necessity for thorough assessment of a patient's needs before prescribing products.
Linda Readding RGN, Dip DN, DN Cert, BSc (Hons), Cert HE ENB216 is a Clinical Nurse Specialist Stoma Care, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, West Yorkshire.
Article accepted for publication September 2001
Maureen Benbow discusses the need for better wound management education and knowledge if we are to prevent the inappropriate use of dressings and enhance patient comfort and save time and NHS funds
Maureen Benbow MSc, BA, RGN, HERC, Tissue Viability Nurse. Mid Cheshire Hospital Trust, Crewe, Cheshire. Article accepted for publication: November 2003
Joanne Wright gives an overview of the management of a retracted stoma
Joanne Wright RGN, RM is a Practice Nurse and Freelance Medical Writer, Brighouse, West Yorkshire Article accepted for publication: January 2008
