Description & Objectives:

Lower Extremity Wounds: When the leg’s venous system fails to return blood effectively, it can lead to valve reflux, blockages, varicose veins, swelling, skin breakdown, pain, and chronic wounds that are difficult to heal. Accurately identifying the underlying venous issue and its severity is essential to developing a targeted wound care and compression plan, which helps reduce complications and enhances the patient’s quality of life.

Upon completion of this lesson, participants will be able to:

Describe 3 characteristics of venous leg ulcers.
Identify 3 clinical signs and symptoms of arterial ulcers.
List 3 clinical signs and symptoms of neuropathic ulcers.

Diabetic Wounds: Diabetes is an evolving health concern, with current statistics indicating 37 million Americans have diabetes, and one in six will develop a diabetic foot ulcer in their lifetime. As diabetes progresses, the risk of diabetic foot wounds increases due to peripheral neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, foot deformity, and pressure on the lower extremities. This increases the potential for 3 types of diabetic wounds: neuropathic, neuroischemic, and ischemic.

Patients with diabetes should have an annual foot examination, inspect and bathe their feet daily, use protective footwear and devices, and follow recommended prevention and care of diabetic foot ulcers.

Upon completion of this lesson, participants will be able to:

Name 2 types of diabetic foot ulcers.
Review 2 treatment interventions to reduce the risk of diabetic foot ulcers.

Speaker(s): Nancy Morgan, RN, BSN, MBA, WOC, CWHS

Target Audience: Nurses, physical therapists, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals interested in wound care.

CE Credit(s): 2.0

CE Statement: Provider, Nancy Morgan Wound Care, approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider #17756 for 1.0 Contact Hour(s). This certificate must be retained by the licensee for a period of four years after the course is completed, as required by the California Board of Registered Nursing.