Nurses on the Wound Care and Healing Team at St. Luke Health Services continue to add to their certifications and expertise in the treatment of complex and hard to heal wounds that can result from a variety of acute or chronic conditions including venous ulcers, arterial and diabetic wounds, pressure ulcers, surgical wounds or traumatic injuries.

St. Luke’s Wound Care Team includes nurses Suzanne Burdick, RN, Vicki Nelson, RN and Brandi Durval, RN. Burdick and Nelson have earned certification through The National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCO®). This credential is a multidisciplinary certification available to licensed wound care professionals across the healthcare continuum. This certification affirms that team members possess the qualifications to deliver the highest standard of wound care to patients.

St Luke Health Services Wound Care Team 2018

Pictured (left to right) is Suzanne Burdick, RN, Brandi Durval, RN and Victoria Nelson, RN. Burdick and Nelson hold special Wound Care Certifications through the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCO®).

Nelson recently added to her credentials when she earned a Diabetic Wound Care Certification through the NAWCO, making her the only nurse in Oswego County with advanced training in diabetes and diabetic foot ulcers and the prevention of complications.

Most wounds we experience in everyday life heal by themselves. Whether it is a cut or an incision from a recent surgery, the majority heal without the need for specialized interventions. Circumstances can result in a wound that will not heal, which can be both painful and frustrating to the individual, and medical complications can follow.

“We are increasingly finding that people who seek the care and services we provide are often frailer, with more medically complex needs. Thanks to our Would Care and Healing Team we are able to meet those complex needs locally,” explained Theresa Makin, RN and Director of Nursing for St. Luke. “Wound Care is available through St. Luke’s Short-Stay Rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing programs. When necessary our team utilizes highly specialized Wound Vac therapy, used to treat diabetic wounds and pressure ulcers leading to successful outcomes. We are very fortunate to have the level of expertise we have at our disposal and there is no doubt that this contributes to successful patient outcomes.”