Abstract
The complexity of the patient in the critical care setting presents ongoing clinical challenges. When a patient has a wound, wound care must become a part of the daily care and be seen as an integral aspect of total patient care. Although wound care has become a complicated science and specialty, all health care professionals should be familiar with fundamental concepts. This article provides a foundation for the critical care nurse to manage wounds by introducing the principles of wound management, reviewing products that effectively provide the environment for wound healing, and identifying practical strategies that can be incorporated into daily care.