Are wound care assessments real or imaginary and what can be done?

Abstract

In wound care, nurses expect to assess, record and report descriptions of patients' wounds or pressure ulcer risk levels. When asked why they have to do this, answers could include: ‘To ensure continuity of care’; ‘To monitor progress’; ‘To improve treatment’, etc. However, I suspect that the key to improving wound care might be found hidden in the unspoken answers. For example: ‘Because it is hospital policy’; ‘Risk levels need a score to be totted up’; ‘It shows somebody did something’; ‘It is part of the job’, etc.