VENOUS LEG ULCERS

Impact of Venous Leg Ulcers on Patient's Quality Of Life

Impact of Venous Leg Ulcers on Patient's Quality Of Life

Introduction

The main purpose of this paper will be to understand the role of nurses on managing the impact of venous legal ulcers on patient's quality of life. This paper discusses the nurse's knowledge and understanding of how venous leg ulcers impact on patient's quality of life and implement a care pathway to assist the nurses in focusing on quality of life while managing patient's ulcers. Leg ulcers are typically located in the medial malleolus. They form a flat and have a clear or slightly sloping edge. As a rule, they are shallow and covered with granulation tissue (Baker, 2009, p. 11). Chronic edema, trauma, infection and inflammation leads to fibrosis of subcutaneous tissue where the skin is not loose, but firm "wooden" surface. Finally there is a loss of subcutaneous tissue, and as a result the lower third of the leg is reduced.

Purpose Statement

The main purpose of this paper will be to conduct a survey in order to explore that how nurses manage the impact of venous leg ulcers on patient's quality of life. This main aim of this research paper is to give a career pathway in order to give assistance to nurses on maintaining their focus on quality of life while managing a patient's ulcers.

Literature Review

The venous leg ulcers are usually treated only with compression bandaging, but for some patients, this technique does not provide a satisfactory result and adjuvant therapy may be of great help (Johnson, 2010, p. 277). Chronic venous insufficiency is the leading cause of leg ulcers. Its incidence increases with aging. The treatment of venous leg ulcers involves the treatment of main cuases, the maximization of local treatment of wounds and the response to the specific needs of the patient. The cornerstone of the diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency involves the detection of venous disease. The nurse should remove any of arterial disease by conducting a comprehensive clinical evaluation and a test to measure the index ankle brachial pressure (Johannsen, 2009, p. 121). The most important aspect of treatment is to reduce edema with a high compression therapy in individuals with ankle brachial pressure which is equal to or greater than 0.8. The increased mobility and medical management are other ways to successfully treat chronic venous insufficiency (Harrison, 2009, p. 18). Some patients respond favourably to surgery, biological agents, treatment aids and to improve their lifestyle. Twelve recommendations have been formulated in light of the results of the latest research, best current clinical practice and the expertise of specialists. The best approach to the problem of venous disorders involves the intervention of a multidisciplinary team supported by the active participation of patients and their families (Field, 2010, p. 45). The authors thus offer a practical and easy way to follow, that will encourage among health professionals the adoption of best clinical practices. Several associations have been indulged in the management of venous leg ...