At Uprety Home Care, our commitment to providing urgent, thorough, and expert nursing services from Newcastle, Central Coast and Sydney is at the core of everything we do. A huge part of that commitment is ensuring our team is always at the forefront of the latest clinical knowledge.
That’s why we were happy to host a free Continuing Professional Development (CPD) session for our dedicated nurses, this time focusing on a critical challenge we often face: managing hard-to-heal sinus wounds with significant slough and biofilm.
Our nurses are frequently called in when a situation has become complex and a wound has stopped healing. As our Clinical Manager, Vicki Newman, noted during the session, “when they’ve got to the point where they’re not healing, that’s when we get them… It’s always a challenge.”
Here are some of the key takeaways from the training, led by Coloplast expert Sheree Madill, that define the Uprety Home Care approach to these difficult cases.
- Wound Bed Preparation is Non-Negotiable
You can’t build a strong house on a weak foundation. The same is true for wound healing. The most crucial step is meticulous preparation of the wound bed. This means more than just a quick clean.
A key learning point was the importance of cleansing the periwound skin, the area surrounding the wound. Best practice is no longer just one or two centimetres; it’s now up to 20 centimetres from the wound edge. Why? Because millions of bacteria on the skin are just waiting for a chance to enter the wound and stall the healing process. This thorough, joint-to-joint cleansing method is a standard our nurses take seriously to prevent complications.
- Moving Beyond “Packing” with 3D Fit Technology
For decades, the standard was to “pack” deep wounds with saline-soaked gauze. Our training reinforced that modern wound care has evolved significantly.
We focused on dressings with 3D Fit Technology. These advanced dressings are not just a simple cover. They drop down and conform to the unique shape of the wound bed, eliminating the gaps where exudate (wound fluid) can pool. This pooling is a major risk factor for infection and biofilm development. By closing the gap, these dressings absorb fluid vertically, locking it away and trapping up to 99.9% of bacteria, creating an optimal environment for healing.
- The “Two-Week Challenge”: Consistency is Key
One of the most vital principles reinforced during our post-training debrief is the “two-week challenge.” When our nurses implement a new wound care plan, we adhere to it for at least 14 days unless the wound shows signs of rapid deterioration.
It takes time for a wound to respond to a new treatment. Constantly changing dressings or approaches can disrupt the delicate healing process. By committing to a carefully selected plan for two weeks, we can properly assess its effectiveness and make informed, evidence-based decisions for the next steps. This methodical approach ensures we give every wound the best possible chance to heal.
- Busting the “Let It Dry Out” Myth
A common misconception is that a wound needs to “get air” and form a dry scab to heal. This is an outdated belief that actually slows down healing.
As Vicki wisely put it, the basic principle is: “If it’s dry, make it wet. If it’s wet, make it dry.”
Wound healing relies on cells migrating across the wound bed, and they can only do this in a moist environment. A dry scab acts like a barrier, stalling this process. If the scab gets knocked off, the healing clock resets to day one. Our goal is always to maintain a perfectly balanced, moist environment right until the wound has completely closed.
Our Commitment in Action
By investing in continuous training, we ensure our nurses have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage even the most complex wounds. We understand the challenges our clients face, from clinical complexity to the constraints of NDIS or Home Care Package funding, and we are dedicated to finding the most effective and efficient path to healing.
When you choose Uprety Home Care, you’re choosing a team that is proactive, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for you or your loved one. Submit an enquiry today https://upretyhomecare.onely.com.au/referral
