Attacking the basics : know what fuels a wound and understand the outcome goal
Understanding wound etiology
Assessing and documenting wounds
Debriding wounds
Documenting and photographing wounds
Skin injuries
Common chronic wounds
Complex wounds
Recognizing atypical (uncommon) wounds : vasculitis, calciphylaxis, varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
Understanding wound care guidelines and protocols
Selecting the correct dressings for optimal wound care
Using adjunctive therapies : negative pressure, normothermic therapy, pulsed lavage, hyperbaric oxygen, negative pressure wound treatment lymphatic drainage therapy, (NPWT) [use of woundvac]
Caring for ostomies and fistulas
Implementing care to promote skin care integrity
Selecting the optimal surface and equipment for the patient : positioning devices, seating cushions, and bariatric products
Qualifications and certifications for specializing in wound care
Awareness of your facility's reputation : certification and accreditation : Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) guidelines for pressure ulcers; magnet hospital standards
CMS HCPCS guidelines and reimbursement.