Nursing assessment of patients with non-acute wounds

Accurate and thorough assessment of patients with wounds is essential in order to provide correct treatment. In relation to patients with open, non-acute wounds, the areas that need assessing include general health and specific underlying disease process, care being given and local wound environment. This article outlines specific details of the assessment process. It includes a breakdown of factors affecting healing, a discussion of the importance of diagnosis of cause, an outline of factors within care provision that may have a negative effect on healing, and areas relevant to the wound itself that should be assessed.