Wound Cleansing and Debridement

Course Overview

This Course will provide an update on appropriate and effective techniques and the essential information required to cleanse and debride a wound.

Topics

• Wound aetiology;
• Tissue identification;
• Factors that impact on wound cleansing;
• Common components used for wound cleansing;
• Demonstration of techniques, products and equipment.

Need

Wound cleansing aims to remove excess exudate, dressing remnants and non-viable tissue from the wound to promote healing and reduce infection risk. Wound cleansing and debridement are essential components of wound healing. While health professionals are usually familiar with the ritual of wound cleansing, evidence shows that many lack the knowledge of how to actually cleanse wounds using best practice guidelines. There is also a lack of practical guidance on how to cleanse. Knowing the appropriate procedures for wound cleansing and debridement will enhance confidence and allow for better patient outcomes through the effective management of wounds.

Purpose

This Course aims to increase knowledge, skills and confidence with regard to effective wound cleansing and debridement to positively impact patient wound management.

Learning Outcomes

• Be more confident in selecting the appropriate equipment, solutions and other items necessary for cleansing specific wounds.
• Apply best practice wound cleansing and debridement techniques according to their clinical indications and guidelines.
• Explain and educate staff and patients about certain techniques, products and equipment for effectively cleansing and debriding wounds.

Target Audience

This Course is relevant to all registered nurses and other health professionals working in a variety of healthcare settings who care for patients with wounds and manage wound care on a regular basis.

Disclosure

No conflict of interest exists for anyone in the position to control content for this activity. Wherever possible, generic or non-proprietary names of medications or products have been used.

Educator

Melinda Brooks

Melinda Brooks has worked in wound management for more than 20 years in a variety of settings from the Victorian Adult Burns Unit to community nursing to research and lecturing in wound care at both Monash and Latrobe Universities. Melinda works in private practice as a nurse practitioner in wound management, following her endorsement in 2013. Her work is mainly in aged care and the community, providing consultancy and education. In 2016, Melinda and two colleagues began 'Wounds R Us' – a collaboration that provides wound management education to clinicians around Melbourne. Melinda has presented at many state and national conferences and thrives on teaching others about the importance of holistic wound management. Melinda is currently a member of the Wounds Australia Education Pillar and committee member of the Wounds Australia national conference 2018