These comprehensive workbooks guides nurses new and transitioning to general practice or aged care through key components of these areas of nursing, and will ensure a thorough understanding of the many facets of these primary health care settings.
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Primary health care is any medical service that is provided outside the four walls of a hospital, including aged care, community health, general practice, custodial, schools and many other primary health care settings. Australia's 98,000+ primary health care nurses play a critical role in disease prevention and control to keep people healthy. They provide proactive care and health promotion to keep Australians well.
SPONSORED EDITORIAL
Hayley Ryan, Director, WoundRescue (Australia & New Zealand)
Hayley Ryan, PhD candidate, MBA, CNC, RN, is Director at WoundRescue (Australia & New Zealand), and a past Board Director/Chair at Wounds Australia. Hayley has over two decades of nursing experience, with a strong focus on wound care throughout her career. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle. She holds extensive postgraduate qualifications in wound management and has also completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Chronic wounds, such as venous leg ulcers, pressure injuries and diabetic foot ulcers, are a common challenge in primary health care. Managing wound exudate isn’t just about helping the wound to heal, it also plays a big role in protecting the person’s comfort, dignity and overall quality of life.
The idea of ‘Wound Balance’ brings all of these elements together. It reminds us to look at the whole picture: the wound itself, the person living with it and the way care is delivered.
Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) dressings are designed to absorb and retain large volumes of exudate. But they don’t stop there, many SAP dressings also trap bacteria, proteases (such as matrix metalloproteinases) and other substances that slow healing. By doing this, they create a healthier wound environment and support the balance needed for healing.
As shown in Figure 1 (right), SAP dressings work through four key phases: (1) absorption, (2) sequestration, (3) retention and (4) removal.1
Through this process, SAP dressings trap excess fluid and harmful substances, keeping them safely contained until the dressing is removed. Evidence shows that SAP dressings can reduce inflammatory biomarkers within 14 days, with improvements sustained for up to 12 weeks, helping shift stalled wounds back towards healing.2
HARTMANN SAP dressing product range.
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HARTMANN SAP dressing product range. |
Infection and biofilm are common causes for wounds failing to progress. The World Union of Wound Healing Societies highlights the role of non-medicated wound dressings (NMWDs), including SAP dressings, in supporting antimicrobial stewardship. Instead of relying on antibiotics or antimicrobial agents, these dressings physically bind and remove bacteria and proteases, lowering the risk of resistance.3 For nurses in primary health care, this is especially important where antibiotics may not always be the best or safest option.
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When providing wound care for patients, consider the following recommendations:
Act early. Identify wounds at risk of becoming chronic within 2 weeks and consider SAP dressings where exudate, inflammation or biofilm are present.
Refer early. Don’t wait for a wound to be classed as chronic. Refer to a wound specialist if there is persistent high exudate, deterioration, venous ulcers needing compression, diabetic foot ulcers, or complex pressure injuries.
Match dressing to need. Use:
Silicone-bordered SAP dressings for fragile or elderly skin.
Hydro-responsive SAP dressings for cleansing, autolysis and biofilm.
Cavity SAP dressings for deep or undermined wounds.
Keep good notes. Document exudate type, wound edge changes, and periwound condition to guide dressing choice.
Work with patients. Involve people in decisions, use positive language, and teach carers and patients what to look out for (maceration, leakage, infection).
For nurses, SAP dressings and NMWDs represent more than just absorbency: They embody a science-informed, patient-centred strategy that aligns with the concept of Wound Balance. This means better healing outcomes, fewer dressing changes, enhanced comfort, and safer care within the constraints of everyday practice.
For more information on SAP dressings available via Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme.
You can add APNA-Member Professional Indemnity Insurance to your membership, when you join APNA.
Sacral wound- Unstageable Pressure Injury 
After using HydroClean (Hydro-Responsive wound dressing).