Wound care education in undergraduate and graduate nursing settings

Abstract

In conclusion, despite the significant role of nurses in chronic wound management, more wound care education is needed, and competency checks should be included in the nursing curriculum. It is vital to make changes in the education curriculum of nursing students regarding chronic wound education for all continents. The authors recommend that more time should be devoted to wound management education in nursing schools. Wound care education can be supported not only through traditional workshops, conferences, home health nursing rotations, and internships but also by leveraging modern technologies such as Web-based interactive programs, digital educational materials, simulation applications, online live classes, and interactive mobile apps that are compatible with today's educational environment. Providing wound care education to students in the preclinical years can lead to using this knowledge in clinical practice and contribute to better care outcomes for millions of patients. This approach supports graduating nurses to tackle the complexities of chronic wound care and improve patient outcomes. Continuing chronic wound care education from student life to graduation improves nurses' competencies and provides them with up-to-date information. This plays a critical role in preventive and protective maintenance practices. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize education focusing on chronic wound care in the nursing curriculum and increase resources in this field. The resources presented in this article show that the knowledge level of graduate or experienced nurses working in a clinical environment on chronic wound care is generally not at the desired level. Many of these studies were conducted in various regions, highlighting the need to consider and plan multiple strategies to improve nurses' knowledge of chronic wound care globally. In this context, steps need to be taken, such as developing more effective methods in chronic wound care education, investing in continuous education and updating opportunities for nurses, and encouraging information sharing at the international level. By increasing their knowledge and skills, these strategies can enable nurses to be more effective and efficient in patient care.