The effect of continuing education on practical wound management

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Practice Improvement
• Wound Management

Background:

• Continuing education programs aim to enhance healthcare professionals' skills.
• Effective wound management is critical for patient outcomes.
• Bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in nursing is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a three-day wound management continuing education program on registered nurses' clinical practice.
• To assess the effectiveness of theoretical knowledge transfer into practical nursing skills.

Main Methods:

• A three-day continuing education program on wound management was conducted.
• Twenty-six registered nurses from diverse disciplines participated.
• Three questionnaires were administered: two during the course and one retrospectively.

Main Results:

• The study found a significant positive impact of theoretical learning on nursing practice.
• A high participation rate (24 out of 26 nurses) ensured robust data.
• Nurses reported that the program's content made a difference in their practice.

Conclusions:

• Continuing education in wound management can effectively change clinical practice.
• Sustained application of learned knowledge requires ongoing educational initiatives.
• Ward-based support is vital for reinforcing and integrating new practices in the clinical environment.