Little is currently understood about the nature of nurses' knowledge in the context of wound management or the impact of limitations in evidence and education on clinical and educational outcomes.
Aim
The purpose of this study was to gain a rich and detailed understanding of the origins and nature of knowledge in generalist and specialist nurses with a key role in the delivery of wound management.
Design
A qualitative reflexive thematic analysis was carried out on data gathered.
Method
Semi‐structured interviews with five wound management specialists and five wound management generalist nurses were carried out between July 2019 and May 2020. Chinn and Kramer's patterns of knowing (2015) was applied as a conceptual framework from which to explore nursing knowledge in the context of wound management.
Results
Seven main themes and 16 subthemes were generated: the bigger picture; the smaller picture; it all comes together at the bedside; show me the evidence; industry: a political football; do good not harm; the power isn't ours; and I'm not that creative…but.
Conclusion
The knowledge that nurses apply in wound management is multidimensional, contextual, and highly integrated; with components that are unique from nursing knowledge in the wider sense. Although the patterns of knowing in wound management are well integrated, they are not equally represented and the types of knowledge that nurses demonstrate is not consistently aligned with those that they value.
Impact
Significant distinctions were not found between wound management specialist and generalists, however specific traits were identified in the knowledge development of those working in a community role and industry represents a unique influencing factor in the context of wound management knowledge formation.