Critical Bytes - Wound management in the critically ill patient

Course overview

Wound management in critically ill patients is complex and often underestimated. Altered perfusion, inflammation, metabolic stress and organ dysfunction mean that wounds in ICU patients may not behave like those in patients with a lower acuity. Nurses play a key role in recognising early signs of impaired healing, selecting appropriate dressings, and advocating for interventions that optimise recovery.

This Critical Bytes session provides a practical, clinically grounded overview of wound assessment and management in the critically ill patient. Using a structured approach and a progressive patient case study, the session explores how critical illness impacts wound healing and how bedside nursing decisions influence outcomes.

Course outline

Following a clinical case with interactive poll questions throughout the live webinar, this session will explore:

• How critical illness alters normal wound healing processes
• A systematic approach to wound assessment in a critically ill patient
  
• Wound characteristics that influence dressing selection
  
• Optimisation of wound healing in unstable patients
  
• The impact of nutrition, oxygenation, perfusion and glycaemic control on healing
  
• Recognition of early signs of poor wound healing or deterioration requiring escalation
  
• Application of clinical reasoning to a critically ill surgical patient case study
  
  

Why you should attend

This session is ideal for nurses working in ICU, HDU, CCU or high-acuity environments who want to strengthen their confidence in wound assessment and management. With a focus on practical decision-making, documentation and escalation rather than product-specific wound care you will gain a better understanding that can be applied to different patient co-horts and clinical scenarios.

Live and on-demand access

This session will be delivered as a live webinar with interactive poll questions, and the opportunity to interact with the expert presenters via chat and Q&A. On demand access is available for all participants who enrol in the course or those unable to attend the live session.