ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR WOUND CARE NURSES IN RURAL AREAS: THE PERCEPTION OF COMMUNITY-DWELLING PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC DIABETIC ULCERS

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic wound care for patients with Diabetes Mellitus requires a long and challenging
treatment. Skills and the right approach are certainly needed. In Indonesia, there was no study aimed to
explore wound care nurses’ skills found. Purpose: This study aims to explore patient perceptions about the
important skills for wound nurses to treat chronic diabetes mellitus wounds. Methods: This research is a
qualitative phenomenological study with 7 participants recruited by purposive sampling technique. The study participants were patients with chronic diabetes mellitus ulcers who underwent wound care in the last 6 months. Data were obtained using semi-structured questions and analyzed using the Colaizzi approach. Results: This study emerged 2 themes: (1) The role of hard & soft skills for wound care nurses; (2) Education as a complement to treatment. Hard skills needed: wound care management, evaluating success, digital literacy, integrating theory and practice, and competence. Soft skills: learning skills, self-skills, social skills, and personal skills. The nature of the disease, frequency of visits, nutrition, and treatment options were the information needed by study participants. Conclusion: In providing wound care, nurses need specific hard skills and soft skills. It is also a need of educating patients as part of care.

Keywords: wound care, nurse, rural area