By reading the article, you can learn all about the key principles of subjects that are vital to your role as a community nurse. Once you have read the article, visit www.jcn.co.uk/learning-zone/ to evaluate your knowledge on this topic by answering the 10 questions in the e-learning unit; all answers can be found in the article. If you answer the questions correctly, you can download your certificate, which can be used in your continuing professional development (CPD) portfolio as evidence of your continued learning.
Compression therapy can play a vital role in improving the quality of life for those with chronic venous insufficiency, chronic oedema and lymphoedema (Lymphoedema Framework, 2006; World Union of Wound Healing Societies [WUWHS], 2008). In particular, compression bandaging can facilitate wound healing and oedema reduction in the treatment phase of management, before further healing and maintenance with compression hosiery.
In each issue of JCN we ask a clinical expert in a particular field to take a look at a therapy area and examine some everyday problems that community nurses may experience. In this issue, we look at an important precursor to compression therapy...
Compression therapy is the ‘gold standard’ for patients with lower limb problems. But achieving success is about more than simply applying compression bandaging or hosiery. We asked Trudie Young, tissue viability nurse and director of education and training at the Welsh Wound Innovation Centre, how to ensure that the limb is properly prepared to receive compression, a process that involves assessment, good skin care and debridement.
The recent and ongoing changes to the NHS were instigated to absorb the increasing costs of an ageing population: the NHS needs to save £15–20 billion by the end of 2013/14 for reinvestment into frontline services (Department of Health [DH], 2010a; 2010b).
David Gray, Professor of Tissue Viability, Tissue Viability Practice Development Unit, Birmingham City University, and Clinical Nurse Specialist Tissue Viability, NHS Grampian, Aberdeen
