Report on Progress of Professional Portfolio

IDENTIFY COMPETENCY
NUMBER, LETTER AND
SUBCATEGORY

DESCRIBE ONE

SIGNIFICANT LEARNING
EXPERIENCE IN THIS
COURSE RELATED TO
THE CLPNA
COMPETENCY. PROVIDE
AN EXAMPLE

DESCRIBE WHAT YOU

LEARNED AND HOW IT

RELATES TO THE
COMPETENCY. EXPLAIN
WHY IT WAS
MEANINGFUL.

Category
G
Subcategory G-2

Surgical
Surgical Nursing Interventions

This subcategory is about assessing and managing surgical incision

and wound care to facilitate healing.

By reading the books of Textbook of Canadian MedicalSurgical Nursing and Fundamentals of Nursing I leaned the concepts
that revolve around surgical nursing intervention which includes
dressings, drains, irrigation, packing, staples and sutures, as well as
wound VAC (vacuum assisted closure). Furthermore, the theories I
learned from books was supplemented with educational videos that
discusses perioperative care. Moreover, while attending laboratory I
experience how to asses wounds, applying and removing different
types of dressings, emptying, removing and shortening drains, as well
as wound irrigation and packing, and removal of staples and sutures.

In order to facilitate wound healing, surgical incisions and

wounds needs to be assessed and manage properly.
Detailed wound assessment is necessary in order to create an
effective nursing care plan. Assessment includes checking the wound
bed, wound measurement and wound edges, note for presence of
exudates and infection, and check for surrounding skin. Pain is an
integral part of the assessment as well. All wounds should be assessed
regularly and outcomes of the assessment are documented.
Wound Management includes, irrigation which is the preferred
method for cleansing open wounds. This may be carried out utilising a
syringe in order to produce gentle pressure to loosen debris. Dressings
are important to maintain sterility and absorb blood and serum. A
wound will require different management and treatment at various
stages of healing. No dressing is suitable for all wounds; therefore
frequent assessment of the wound is required. Dressings can either be
primary, secondary, occlusive or semi-occlusive.
I learned about surgical drains which are tubes placed near
surgical incisions in the post-operative patient, to remove pus, blood
or other fluid, preventing it from accumulating in the body. The type
of drainage system inserted is based on the needs of patient, type of
surgery, type of wound, how much drainage is expected and surgeon
preference. Doctors order is needed before the removal or shortening
of any kind of drain. Inspection of the tube and incision site is done

after withdrawal and documentation is always necessary. In addition,

the timing of suture removal is variable. Before removing the sutures,
the wound margins should appear to be healing and appear closed. A
ridge of healing tissue may be felt. It may be prudent to apply
steristrips to strengthen the wound if the area is under tension.
As nursing student, importance of learning the concept of
surgical nursing interventions is critical because surgical nursing is
one of the major foundations in nursing. In addition, to be able to
render an effective nursing care I should be able to demonstrate
knowledge and ability to assess and manage surgical incision and
wound care to facilitate healing.

USES THE PROFICIENCY

CATEGORIES TO RATE
THEIR PROFICIENCY IN
THE CHOSEN CLPNA
COMPETENCY. EXPLAIN
WHAT WAS DONE TO
ACHIEVE THE
COMPETENCY.

DESCRIBE HOW YOU

WILL APPLY THIS

LEARNING IN YOUR
CURRENT AND FUTURE
NURSING PRACTICE

I consider myself Fair in terms of proficiency in surgical

nursing intervention competency. With the aid of reading and
watching videos, I understand the theory pertaining to surgical
nursing, and though I was able to utilize the knowledge well in
scenarios and nursing care while attending laboratory I have no
experience rendering the care to an actual patient.
In order to improve my proficiency I will continue to learn by
reading more books and watching more videos that will expand my
knowledge in assessing and managing surgical incisions and wound.
Also, I will improve my competency by applying the knowledge I
learned in my upcoming preceptorship.

In my future clinical practice as a student, I will promote

positive impact on my clients by doing a comprehensive nursing
assessment and creating an applicable nursing care plan. I will utilize
the knowledge and skills I have in order to achieve the goal which is
to facilitate wound healing.

Student Name: Angela Luz Quitoriano

Course: NFDN-2003-Nursing Foundations III: Medical-Surgical Nursing
Date: November 8, 2015
Instructor/Tutor: Jasmine Guanlao Sagun