Wound

A wound assessment is more than a description of what is visible. It creates a reproducible baseline against which healing, deterioration, and response to treatment can be judged. A wound may appear smaller while undermining is extending, or look relatively unchanged while new ischemia, infection, or periwound damage is developing. The RPN's assessment should allow another clinician to answer three questions: What does the wound look like now? Is it improving or deteriorating compared with the previous assessment? What action does the change require? Consistent technique, a standardized assessment tool, and precise documentation make those answers defensible and clinically useful. Documentation must follow the applicable provincial regulatory standard, employer policy, and the RPN's authorized scope and competence.