(NPWT) including Vacuum Assisted Closure (Vac) - Royal United ...

4.2 Ward/Department Staff
• Will at all times follow the Trust procedure for NPWT.
• Must complete a comprehensive wound assessment which will be
documented on the Trust wound assessment form.
• Following assessment, ward/department staff will refer the patient to
the TVN if required.
• The patient’s suitability for NPWT will be assessed by either the TVN
or a trained registered nurse who has completed the full RUH NPWT
training and competencies. Please note that although the term
registered nurse is used throughout this document it is acknowledged
that other registered allied health professionals may undertake NPWT
after appropriate training. For further clarification, please contact the
TVN. This assessment will be clearly and accurately documented in
the patient’s medical notes by the registered nurse (NMC, 2009).
• The nurse undertaking NPWT will ensure that a photograph is taken
of the wound (with patient consent) prior to and after NPWT.
• The nurse undertaking NPWT will gain informed consent prior to
commencement of the therapy and this will be documented in the
Medical Notes. Patients will be advised of the potential benefits and
complications and a patient information leaflet given to them and fully
explained (NMC, 2008).
• The nurse undertaking NPWT will ensure that the RUH NPWT
assessment and Care Plan is fully completed.
4.3 Ward/Department Managers
• Ward managers are responsible for ensuring that there is adherence
with the policy by their staff.
• Ward managers will ensure that they have adequate numbers of staff
who have completed NPWT training. This includes full NPWT
training including the completion of competencies and the shorter
ward based training on the management of NPWT devices for those
Document name: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Ref.: 745
Issue date: 10 June 2013
Status: Approved
Author: Kate Purser and Nicola Heywood Page 6 of 20