Margaret Heale
RN, MSc, CWOCN
Margaret Heale has a clinical consulting service, Heale Wound Care in SE Vermont and performs foot and nail care in patient homes. Margaret also runs a Wound Treatment Associate course that accepts long distance candidates. She arrived in the United States over 15 years ago from England and wrote ‘Wet-to-dry Dressings: Fact & Fiction’, (Armstrong, Price 2004) as her dissertation for her masters degree in wound care.
Getting her WOCN has broadened her outlook into ostomy and continence care and she values the interaction with the Connecticut valley Ostomy support Group that she helps to organize. Special interests are creating partnerships in care by being an innovative, enthusiastic educator. A holistic approach is central to nursing practice which she feels should always focus on the individual and ways in which their needs can be met.
By Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Not very long ago, when working in an in-patient rehab center, I was shocked to discover patients calling the adult incontinence garments "hospital underwear." We were making good inroads into reducing the use of these products with the hope that...
By Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
In the United Kingdom, we are well into spring. As I look at the garden, there are patterns of growth literally cut into rock. Old stones with beautiful mosses, and next to a stone step, one type of rock plant has thrown up five stems and atop...
By Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
"Must Love Dogs (Cats, Lizards, Snakes, Birds, AND Arachnids)." This is a line that needs to be next to all job advertisements for home health care staff. You see, I am a dog lover, not because I love dogs but because I have a way of being able...
By Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
In our point, click, fill-in-the -blanks world of ever increasing wound care algorithms and MOs, I have an ax to grind (straight into my so-called smart phone if I had the courage).
By Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Having read a recent article on clean versus sterile dressing technique, commenting again on this issue seems highly appropriate. The conclusion of the paper essentially is that a clean technique for acute wound care does not affect the incidence...
by Margaret Heale RN, MSc, CWOCN
Wound care can be so straightforward. The process starts with a comprehensive assessment, and then the wound care regimen can be planned and the frequency of dressing changes determined. A well-written order will include all of the relevant...
by Margaret Heale RN, MSc, CWOCN
The research lecturer's name was Terry, and he had my respect and attention. Many of the students were dreading the research modules but were cheered by the prospect of Terry taking us through it.
By Margaret Heale RN, MSc, CWOCN
I watched a short PowerPoint DVD on the "bag technique" as part of our regular in-servicing the other day. The presentation started with the most important way to prevent cross infection—wash hands—which is fine. Then came the bag technique. I...
By Margaret Heale RN, MSc, CWOCN
Wrapping wounds is an art, and hence, it comes easily to some and more difficult to others. This post won't make you a wound dressing artist, but it does provide some tips for good bandaging techniques. The word "bandage" (in the US) often refers...
By Margaret Heale RN, MSc, CWOCN
Wounds are dressed every day, and much goes into the choices that are made to properly apply wound dressings. The condition of the periwound skin should be a major factor in the decisions made, as injuring this area can extend the wound and cause...
Margaret Heale RN, MSc, CWOCN
Like many people, you might go to recycling every month or so and be proud to deliver a few black bags of rubbish, and recycle most everything else. Many of you may have a thriving compost heap (mine is frequented by the biggest and fattest groundhog...
Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
"Personalized medicine" is apparently a new concept that has evolved from taking good family histories, then adding a genetic testing component. The idea is to help assess the risk of specific traits that may be evident, and confirm with genetic...
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
This past fall, I attended the New England WOCN Society regional conference. While I am still processing all the great information that I absorbed there, I'd like to share with you some of the important discussions that came up on the topics of...
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Looking back on a previous New England WOCN Society regional conference I attended, it strikes me that there where several impressive items discussed relating to the topic of pressure injuries.
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Perspective of Nursing Care from Past to Future by Matron Marley
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Most of the residents here are elderly, though some of the more acute rehab patients are quite a bit younger than me. We actually have five women over a 100...
Perspective of Nursing Care from Past to Future by Matron Marley
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
People can be open with few secrets and little to hide but even then there are behaviors, memories, hopes, fears and desires that are not revealed. We have a...
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Matron Marley is back after a small break (that allowed me to vent about the lack of 'clean' with a 'clean dressing technique...
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Hi blog buddies,
Matron Marley is taking a vacation to allow her writer (me) to vent. The problem I see has evolved since the introduction of a 'clean dressing technique' over the last 15 years or so, and has little foundation in the...
Perspective of Nursing Care from Past to Future by Matron Marley
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Perspective of Nursing Care from Past to Future by Matron Marley
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Perspective of Nursing Care from Past to Future by Matron Marley
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Perspective of Nursing Care from Past to Future by Matron Marley
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Perspective of Nursing Care from Past to Future by Matron Marley
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Perspective of Nursing Care from Past to Future by Matron Marley
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Perspective of Nursing Care from Past to Future by Matron Marley
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Well it's me again, Matron Marley. I got in through the door no problem today. My granddaughter dropped me off as she is doing some MDS training. I am...
Perspective of Nursing Care from Past to Future by Matron Marley
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN
Perspective of Nursing Care from Past to Future by Matron Marley
by Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN