Resultados clínicos de las enfermeras de práctica avanzada en heridas crónicas complejas en Andalucía

Abstract

Objective: To describe and to analyze the clinical role performed by the advanced practice nurse in complex chronic wounds (APN-CCW) in Andalusia, regarding the follow-up of patients with chronic wounds. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study in the Poniente of Almería Districts, of the H.M.A. Jaén North-Northeast, H.M.A. Serranía de Málaga and the Metropolitan District of Granada between June 2015 and June 2018, measuring descriptive variables such as: etiological diagnosis of chronic wounds, evolution time before referring to APN-CCW, healing, improvement, worsening and deaths rates, total of chronic wounds, referral rates from APN-CCW to hospitals. Results: A total of 767 people with chronic wounds were followed up, and 70% of all of them were pressure ulcers, venous ulcers and diabetic feet, with an average of 21 months-evolution of all injuries and whose derivation from APN-CCW to hospital specialists was 13.82%, with more than a 86.18% (n=661) of patients effectively managed by APN-CCW. The direct derivation of patients to the medical specialists office since the implementation of the figure was only 5%, with the significant cost savings that this supposed, besides, the APN-CCW attended almost one in every 4 chronic wounds, no consulting. Conclusions: The clinical role and coordination of the APN-CCW in patients with chronic wounds is effective in improving care.