Promoting wound healing in the neonatal setting: process versus protocol.

The principles of wound healing have been studied and evaluated extensively in the animal and human adult models. Practical application has been long in coming to the neonatal and critical care settings. Neonatal nurses have the ability to significantly affect the outcome of wound healing through the care they provide and the approaches that they take to caring for wounds. The article reviews pertinent literature to provide an evidence base for optimal wound care activities. An outcome-oriented, functional approach to product selection is described to help nurses meet the goals of protection, cleansing, moist wound healing, and appropriate dressing and care of wounds specific to the neonatal population.