Wound Management During World War I

Medical and surgical treatment was not as advanced as it is today. Imagine bleeding or having a cut while suffering through the pain and passing out while getting treated. During the period of the Revolutionary War, most deaths occurred due to an illness rather than soldiers being in a combat. Smallpox, dysentery, pneumonia, and fever are the illnesses that caused many deaths. This happened because of the unsanitary conditions and untrained medical staff. Women mainly had medical knowledge so they were responsible for the healthcare of the family. These mothers served as doctors even though they only had been trained by past mothers.

World War I was a war of innovation with new artillery and tactics, but also a deadly war in which approximately ten million soldiers died in or injuries sustained from battle. As injuries increased throughout the war, the need for medical assistance was constantly growing. Surgery is considered an art and like art, it evolved and new techniques were developed, making an injury that could kill someone survivable. For instance, in the Civil War most surgeons would immediately amputate and in World War I surgeons began trying much harder to save limbs. Blood transfusion allowed surgeons to reduce patient death from blood loss because of the ample supply of blood from fellow soldiers. Sanitation improvements led to fewer deaths from infection

Let’s go way back, all the way to 1861, the beginning of the Civil War. The Civil War was a battle between the Confederacy (south) and the Union (north). This was a battle to end slavery in the south. There were about 1,264,000 soldiers that died, and about 644,000 people were injured. As you may know, our medical field has drastically improved over the years since then. But back at that time, there wasn’t a lot that was yet to be known. As the Civil War progressed in its dreadful ways and occurrence of common wounds, that would be the main topic that will be addressed. Now sit back and relax, as we take a trip back to the past of battlefield medicine during the Civil War.

The REAL Truth Behind How They Treated Wounds in the Civil War! (the answer may shock you)

Vietnamese even used assorts of traps to kill or in some cases severely injure American soldiers called pungee pits not only did these spikes impale the troops but also the spike was smeared with poison to infect the wound causing the solider pain even if it was a little scratch. Wounds wouldn’t heal properly and easily causing immense pain for the soldier, which even could lead to solider

Secondly, advance in medicine has not only impacted the nation of America, but the globe as well with new innovations that helped the wounded and diseased. A five-year long war had produced a number of medical procedures that helped those who were in need of medical assistance. Despite its barbaric reputation, the medical care during the Civil War had helped dawn a new era with modern medicine. During the battle between a divided nation, the amount of injured people was not only those who were wounded, but there were also those that had been infected with a threatening infection of a body part. War surgeons who had taken part in the Civil War had seen the sheer number of an estimated 40,000 injured people and had eventually found the best procedure

SC called the Rose. SC asked about her weight status. Rose said she is now gaining weight. Dorothy’s when the wound specialist on April 13, 2017. The wound specialist start her on health shakes with protein twice a day. Rose noted her weight 110. Dorothy weight has increase 10 pounds. Rose also note that Dorothy being going to a wound specialists to promote healing. She noted that her wound has not being healing. That is another reason why wound specialists put her on protein shakes. Dorothy has been to the dentist on last week. There was not cavity and the dentist set appointment for next year Dorothy weight has increase 10 pounds. PROGRESS MADE ON OUTCOME because she gaining weight and she is free from cavity

In the years of 1914-1918 the first World War was taking place. During this time supplies were short being we were caring for not only americans but our allies as well. The deliveries were sometimes late and generally contained less than what was ordered. That said, one can imagine there was more need for it and use for it than what we could provide, we began to remove the bandages from well enough soldiers and wash them and reuse them on a more wounded soldier. One may think that the bandages were sterile from washing them, but this is a mistake to assume. Generally the bandages were washed in cold water with little or no soap (once again due to lack of supplies). That said, one can imagine that the bacteria that was present survived the cleaning

I observed the documentation process from week -2 in my clinical setting and through reading the related documents I gained theoretical knowledge of documentation . I week -4 I did the the return demonstration of documentation with my instructor successfully and started the documentation process in clinical and developed my communication skill . I think my learning plan helped me to achieve this goal . When I started this semester I wanted to learn about the wound care . To achieve this goal I observed the techniques of wound care in week -10 demonstrated by my instructor and reviewed the related resources of wound care . In week -11 I was successful in return demonstration of wound care and evaluated by my instructor . The plan I made

Without the medical treatment created during World War I, the nine million casualties of war could have doubled. The army’s Nurse Corps and doctors saved millions of lives by both creating an operative path of treatment and by inventing new cures. Organizations like the Red Cross and the Nurse Corps and first created a an series of medical stations to ensure that all soldiers would get the best care possible. Captain Oswald H. Robertson created the first blood bank as well as anticoagulants and the the syringe blood transfusion technique. Antiseptics were also put into use for the first time during World War I. One of the most widespread treatments created was therapy, which was made to cure those affected with shell shock.

Hippocrates once said, “War is the only proper school for a surgeon.” War, for the medical industry, can be considered an opportunity to grow. Many times, during war, the medical industry builds as it attempts to find faster, better, and more accurate ways to treat and heal. The first and second World Wars are no exceptions. Throughout the course of World War One and World War Two, the medical industry developed to its current status through the discovery and innovations of medicine, treatments, and experiment.

The process of wound assessment requires accurate and appropriate interventions while dealing with the patients. There are some major components which the operator must consider to effectively access an infection, and they require a range of skills and knowledge. These factors are the knowledge of relevant anatomy and physiology, the understanding of the various factors that accelerate wound growth, and the ability to listen and understand the patient’s needs. In wound accessing, the doctor should have an idea concerning the number and location of wounds, the required treatments depending on the type of infection, the type of wound in accordance to various grading given, and the procedures to follow to achieve the treatment

Dale Gordon has been a patient in the ICU for 6 days after developing complications after open heart surgery. He is an 82-year-old African American who is disoriented to place and time. He lives with his daughter Claudia in her home. Claudia and her two brothers visit Mr. Gordon daily since he has been hospitalized. Mr. Gordon has not been eating well since the surgery and has lost 3 pounds. Mr. Gordon has type 2 diabetes and is on oral antihyperglycemic medication. Before he came to the hospital, Mr. Gordon was able to only ambulate for short distances. He has orders to get up in a chair twice a day. Joan, a student nurse, is caring for Mr. Gordon this morning. She has reviewed his medical record and is now ready to start caring for him.

Wound management is one of the cornerstones for nursing care however, effective wound care extends far beyond the application of the wound itself. Nurses may be required to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate wound care; therefore, order to fill these roles it’s critical to have an understanding of the several different areas of wound care such as, integumentary system, classification of wounds, wound procedures, and documentation. Knowledge in each of these areas will allow nurses to make well informed decisions about wound care, and as a result play an active part in wound healing.

Outline and discuss a clinical audit that you have undertook into one aspect of care delivery and reflect upon the experience using Driscoll’s model of structured reflection. Word Count (2197)