Behandling av bensår ur ett omvårdnadsperspektiv
Swedish studies have shown that more people than expected have problems with leg ulcers and that the yearly cost for treatment per patient is approximately 26 500kr. Since the elderly population is on the rise, there is a need to highlight this growing problem, to make sure that proper assessment tools are used and to improve the standard of care given to patients with leg ulcers. The aim was to show what a difference the nurse can make to patients with leg ulcers. With all types of wounds it is imperative to establish if there is any underlying reasons since certain illnesses can cause more wounds or delay the healing process. The doctor is responsible for making the diagnosis and to prescribe the correct treatment whereas the nurse?s responsibility is for the nursing care and its documentation. The patient?s lifestyle, his next of kin and his environment all play an important part in this healing process. A holistic approach is therefore necessary to be able to give good standard of nursing care. The nurse can by being careful and precise when changing the dressing, using assessment tools and document, give encouragment for compliance, inform and educate patients, help a great deal in the patient?s healing process. Further research is needed to see how the nurses? compliance can be improved, and how new knowledge can be implemented. Nurse students need to learn more about wounds and wound treatments in their basic education, and evidencebased guidelines have to be used in the caring for leg ulcer patients.