Wound Closure Rates: A Comparison Between Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and Primary Care Physician Treatment

Abstract A retrospective and qualitative medical record review was conducted to identify patients who had been treated for an uncomplicated stage II, III, or IV sacral pressure injury between July and October 2017 at a large wound care center. Wound healing rates for 60 patients who had been treated by a primary care physician (n = 30) or an advanced practice registered nurse certified in wound care (n = 30) were compared. Wound closure at 3 months was used as the end point for assessment. Results indicated significant differences in wound healing rates for advanced practice registered nurse and physicians, 93% and 67%, respectively (P = .0125), as well as differences in care delivered by both providers.