Kylie has healing powers

A district nurse who led a project aimed at providing consistent, best-practice wound care across Victoria has been named a finalist in the prestigious 2012 HESTA Australian Nursing Awards.

Clinical nurse consultant, Kylie Elder, from Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) is one of five finalists for the Innovation in Nursing award.

Ms Elder led the development of the Connected Wound Care Project — a Department of Health funded initiative which developed nine wound health care guides and a diabetes foot kit to improve the management and prevention of chronic wounds across Victoria.

Chronic wounds may appear on anyone, however, they are more common among the elderly.

The guides target healthcare providers and people with wounds, and provide advice on such topics as healthy eating for healing, skin care, activity and healing, and use of footwear for individuals who have, or are at high risk of developing, wounds.

The main aims and benefits of Connected Wound Care for nurses and their clients include: improved outcomes for clients by educating nurses and clients in important areas related to wound care; a standardised clinical approach to wound care within the community health arena across the state and the promotion of best practice; and access to information for patients regarding important issues related to the prevention and management of wounds.

“Before we started the project, limited resources were available for use in wound management in community care and services operated as silos, developing their own resources, so there was little evidence of a shared approach to developing wound management resources,” Ms Elder said.

She said a major part of her role was to help build strong relationships between providers of wound care and to create standardised resources on wound management for use by healthcare providers and individuals living with wounds, such as leg ulcers, foot ulcers, pressure injuries and burns.

“Through collaboration and shared expertise, we have been able to develop a series of resources that empower individuals through education and provide a framework for nurses to deliver standard practices based on an individual and their injury.”

Ms Elder, who is based at RDNS’ Moreland site, said news of her nomination and selection as a finalist was an honour and she shared the honour with those who worked on the project.

The Connected Wound Care Project has provided resources to 275 public healthcare providers across Victoria, and has been requested by many GPs.

The winners of the HESTA Australian Nursing Awards will be announced at a gala dinner on Thursday (10 May).

The winner of the Innovation in Nursing Award will receive a $10,000 grant to develop their service or program.