Wound Care Nursing Education in the Acute Care Setting

Abstract

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To assess the feasibility of a survey study exploring how nurses in acute care prefer to be educated, particularly regarding wound management in the acute care setting. METHODS This pilot study utilized a cross-sectional survey design that included both open-ended and close-ended questions. Participants (N = 47) completed the Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire and provided information regarding their educational preferences related to wound management through use of an online survey. RESULTS Participants described the importance of varying educational techniques by topic, ensuring an appropriate time of day for education, and preferring smaller educational sessions over time. Most participants preferred one-on-one bedside education, and the most commonly reported learning styles were active, sensing, visual, and a balanced approach to sequential and global learning. There were few correlations between learning styles and choice of education method, only one of which was expected. CONCLUSIONS It would be beneficial to conduct this study on a larger scale to confirm results, improve understanding of the correlations, and determine further potential correlations between study variables.