Keywords
Burn Unit
Burn Nursing
Multidisciplinary Team
Nursing Workforce
How to Cite
Abstract
The Burn Unit of the Department of Traumatology in Zagreb, established in 1970, is the only specialized burn unit in Croatia and serves patients with severe burn injuries from across the country and neighboring regions. It was the first center in Croatia to integrate surgeons, nurses, and other healthcare professionals into a dedicated multidisciplinary burn care unit. The unit includes an operating theatre, an intensive care unit for critically burned patients, and a surgical ward.
In 2007, the Clinical Unit of the Tissue Bank was established within the Department of Traumatology and later integrated into the Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center. The introduction of tissue banking and keratinocyte culture significantly improved survival outcomes in patients with extensive burns, while simultaneously increasing the clinical and organizational demands placed on burn nurses, who are actively involved in tissue sampling, application procedures, and post-application care.
Burn nurses play a central role in the comprehensive management of burn patients, applying specialized protocols, ensuring continuity of care, and supporting patients throughout acute treatment and recovery. However, the increasing complexity of burn care, combined with workforce reduction and high physical and emotional demands, has made burn nursing progressively more challenging. This commentary highlights the critical importance of a comprehensive burn nursing team approach in sustaining high-quality burn care and supporting both patient outcomes and nursing practice within the Zagreb Burn Unit.
References
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