• To enhance your understanding of the physical symptoms and psychosocial effects of malignant wounds
• To learn about wound management strategies that you could use in your practice to enhance patients’ quality of life
• To count towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD, or you may wish to write a reflective account (UK readers)
• To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers)
Malignant wounds are a complication of cancer and usually develop in patients with advanced disease. Physical symptoms associated with these wounds include pain, bleeding, exudate, malodour and pruritus, while patients may also experience various distressing psychosocial effects. The aim for nurses is to manage these physical symptoms and psychosocial effects, thus enhancing quality of life for patients and their families. This article discusses the symptoms and effects associated with malignant wounds, and explains what is involved in a wound assessment. It also outlines strategies that can be used to manage or eliminate wound-related symptoms and enhance patients’ quality of life.
Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2022.e12001
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondencelynn.cornish@st-margarets-hospice.org.uk
Conflict of interestNone declared
Cornish L (2022) Managing malignant wounds in patients receiving palliative care. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2022.e12001
Published online: 19 December 2022
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