Nurse Practitioners in the burn unit

ChangeAgent · Aug 3, 2005

Me again,
I'm also doing research for a proposal for adding the role of a nurse practitioner to our burn center.
Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks

I dont have any clinical experience with burns. But a good fit seems like a wound care specialty IF there would be support from medical staff. NP's can write the orders etc. If you are not hospital employees - you can bill for services.

shandsburnRN-CRNA · Jul 21, 2007

We have two NP's in our unit (both acute care) one is our nurse manager the other works in our clinic and the ICU. Our NP writes orders but performs to procedures outside of simple suturing. However, I met a NP that works in the burn unit at Vanderbilt and she is utilized to a much higher degree, she actually performs escharotomies and I believe central line placements also (can't remember for sure on the lines).

So yes I find they are very useful in the burn unit and I am glad to have them available. I am getting ready for CRNA school and kicking around the idea of approaching our surgeon about being the dedicated anesthesia provider for the unit since I will have a strong background in burn care.

mint_julep7 · Aug 14, 2007

i am planning to go back to school for np, and my ideal job would be on the burn unit, available for everything from new arrivals in hydro to critical assessment and care. i am a new nurse, graduated in april, but have spent the last year and a half on burn unit in memphis. moved back to arkansas, and am not happy in my job now. i love my burns...

End Game RN, RN · Feb 23, 2008

MDT for my beautiful horse

Background for my questions. Require information from burn and wound care staff. Sorry so long, want the information out there so you know where I am coming from.

My 7 year old mare, a grey Andalusian PRE has severe tail pyoderma with complications involving extensive bacterial and fungal infections. She has also developed an extensive Melanoma tumor of her tail. The lower third. This tumor is necrotic with foul black liquid draining from tracking wounds within this mix.

Effectively used recommended treatment for the infections and tunneling wounds and above described drainage. I researched this from numerous veterinary sources from the internet and textbooks.Success came in the form of tremendous slothing of necrotic tissue exposing some nasty tissue but noticeably cleaner.

I read about maggot debridement therapy and finally called Monarch Labs, obtained maggots and applied them after preparing the site. As per several articles I read within three days we removed the dressing and found beautiful pink tissue. The concavity of the lower aspect of the tail was now 90* % filled with this viable granular pink tissue.

Horse now "happy" and more alert After initiating all of the wound care provided over the past three weeks as described above. The maggot therapy being the last.

Today I used Ethezyme 830 ointment on remaining grey-black necrotic (but very soft) tissue at the top of these lesions, used duoderm gel on the healthy appearing lower aspect of the tail and wrapped it all up in a neat package.

Need to re-educate my people and partner about not squishing the maggots while I was at work (panicked when maggots became visible through loosend dressing) they were proud when showing me how tight they applied a new dressing (ARRGH!!!) I was informed that the treatment was disgusting.

Question:

Has anyone out there utililized MDT on their burn patients or patients with extensive infected wounds (trauma, bed sores, tumors...etc..?

Read a hundred or so articles on these treatments and medications and biotherapy but I would feel better if I could get feedback/advice from the experiences from others. I realize this is equine, but hey, we're mammals aren't we?

Got graphic digital photos from the beginning to today. I will submit this information to Monarch Labs and continue maggot therapy after I convince the guys not to murder my new friends.

FEED BACK PLEASE!!!

Thanks;

End Game RN