Tissue Viability and Wound Care

Course Title:  Tissue Viability and Wound Care

Course length 6 hours

Maximum number to attend 12

This course is primarily aimed at Registered Nurses but can be attended by all staff.

This first session of this training will increase the delegates knowledge of tissue viability, focusing on pressure area care and what causes the skin to break down.  It will also raise awareness of risk assessment tools used in tissue viability.

The second session will look more generally at different types of wounds, including the healing process and management of wounds and wound dressings.

Learning Outcome & Assessment Criteria

Tissue Viability

The Skin

Understand:

Structure of the skin

Functions of the skin

Pressure Ulcers

Discuss:

What is a pressure ulcer?

Classification of pressure ulcers and grading

Who is at risk?

What causes pressure sores to develop (intrinsic and extrinsic factors)

Differentiate between pressure, shear and friction forces

Preventative and pressure relieving aids

Factors delaying the healing process

Changes in appearance of the skin when skin integrity is at risk

MDTs who you might involve in pressure area care

Importance of reporting and, where appropriate, document the care given and any changes, including improvement and deterioration, you have noticed

Importance of keeping accurate and up to date records

Importance of immediately reporting any issues which are outside your own sphere of competence without delay to the relevant member of staff

Risk Assessment

Identify and discuss the different Risk Assessment tools available

Undertake a skin assessment.

Scenarios

The session will include scenario based group work.

Wound Care

Introduction - Wounds

Define and understand different types of wounds

Anatomy and physiology of the skin

Wound Healing

Understand:

Classification of wounds

Methods of wound healing

Phases of wound healing

Methods of Wound Assessment

Discuss wound bed preparation

TIME principles

Understand factors which could affect wound healing

Understand the different dressing groups

Wound Management

Discuss achieving a well vascularized wound bed

Identify methods of debridement of devitalized tissue

Understand the impact of:

Infection

Moisture balance

Edge non-advancement

Principles of wound cleansing

Wound Dressing

Understand the principles of dressing a wound

Wound assessment and recording tools

Equipment required

Procedure and aftercare