What All Nurses Should Know About Diabetic Foot Ulcers

With increased knowledge about treatment and prevention of diabetic foot ulcers, nurses can have a more positive impact on their patients.

Diabetes affects over 25 million Americans (over 8% of the population). Approximately 15% of those people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer. Of those whom develop a foot ulcer, 6% will be hospitalized for some complication related to the foot ulcer. Lower extremity amputation will occur in 14-24% of the persons with diabetes who also have a foot ulcer. This ondemand webinar will inform nurses of their role in prevention of diabetic foot ulcers. You will learn how to identify patients at risk for ulceration, and understand strategies for prevention to keep them ulcer free. This webinar will discuss the pathology of diabetes in relation to development of foot complications. Ultimately, the treatment of the diabetic foot ulcer will be discussed, and importantly, the care required beyond the treatment of the diabetic foot ulcer. This activity has been submitted to WNA CEAP for approval to award contact hours. Wisconsin Nurses Association is accredited as an approver of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. To receive a certificate of successful completion, you are required to attend the course in its entirety and complete and return an evaluation form. Planning Panel Members are Dea J. Kent MSN, RN, NP-C, CWOCN, Kerri Crank, RN, MSN, FNP-BC and Michelle Shepherd, B.A. in Psychology and C.E. Coordinator. There are no conflicts of interest to report. There was no commercial support received for the planning of this program. No endorsement of products or off-label use will occur at this program.