Caring for patients with neoplastic wounds

Neoplastic wounds represent a distressing burden for patients facing a prognosis of terminal illness, since they are lesions that have no possibility of healing, disfigure the physical appearance and develop symptoms that are difficult to control. The aim of this study was to verify the knowledge and practice of nurses in caring for patients with neoplastic wounds. This is a descriptive study with a quantitative design carried out with 22 nurses from a philanthropic hospital in Campina Grande - PB between April and June 2016. The results showed that nurses have gaps in their knowledge of content and techniques for assessing and treating patients with neoplastic wounds. In addition, it was found that nurses do not provide some of the care required for this clientele. The research institution therefore needs to invest in continuing education in order to train the nursing team to monitor patients with these lesions, acquire the necessary materials and implement care protocols to guide the practice of assessment and therapeutic methods for caring for these patients.