[Characterization of nursing professionals who care for people with vascular ulcers in outpatient facilities]

The purpose of the study was to describe the demographic and professional competence characteristics of the nursing workers who treat people with vascular ulcers in the dressing rooms of the municipal healthcare network. This cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study was performed in a large city in Midwestern Brazil, from September of 2010 to February of 2011. Data collection was performed using a questionnaire, and the data were subjected to descriptive analysis and qui square test (p<0,05). The participants were 218 workers, 58.3% of which had never been involved in update activities related to wound evaluation and treatment, 40.7% reported having little experience in this field, 61% were nursing technicians and nurses' aides. Approximately 10% of the nurses worked exclusively in the dressing rooms, and the others helped in when called. The collected data indicate weaknesses in the nursing care delivered to people with vascular ulcers.