Nova Scotia Health offers multiple wound care education programs. Each program includes:
- A self-directed learning component through LMS
- A classroom component that aids the participant in consolidating their knowledge through case study work, hands-on practice, and group discussion
Wound Care Level 1
Wound Care Level 1 provides foundational learning for skin and wound care, including:
- Preventative skin care practices
- How wounds heal
- Local wound care practices, from wound cleansing to wound product selection
Level 1 Objectives:
After completing Level 1, the learner will be able to:
- Explain the skin and wound standards and how they are transferred to practice
- Describe the factors that impact skin integrity
- Identify the components of a skin assessment
- Discuss interventions to maintain skin integrity
- Recognize appropriate skin products and rationale for use
- Describe the three types of wound healing
- Explain the phases of wound healing
- Recognize the potential reasons for delayed healing in each phase of wound healing
- Discuss the procedure for collecting a wound swab
- Identify the types of wounds appropriate or inappropriate for wound cleansing
- Identify the appropriate method(s) of wound cleansing based on wound assessment
- Distinguish between various wound cleansing solutions
- Describe the practice of asepsis in wound care
- Recognize the principles and rationale for wound packing
- Recognize indications and contraindications related to wound packing
- Identify different methods and materials used in wound packing
- Describe the procedure for wound packing
- Explain the role products play in wound management
- Recognize common wound products on Nova Scotia Health's Wound Formulary
- Discuss wound product functionality for commonly-used products
- Develop a wound care plan, including management and treatment interventions for skin and wound care
- Demonstrate a wound dressing change, from cleansing to re-dressing
Sessions are currently being offered at sites throughout Nova Scotia Health.
To register: Please contact Interprofessional Practice & Learning in your area for details.
Wound Care Level 2
Wound Care Level 2 goes beyond the basics of skin and wound care to include learning about specific wound etiology, including:
- Management of pressure injuries
- Prevention and management of skin tears and moisture associated skin damage (MASD), including:
- Incontinence associated dermatitis (IAD)
- Periwound maceration
- Intertrigo and peristomal MASD
- Prevention and management of surgical wounds
- Application and management of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT)
Level 2 Objectives:
After completing Level 2, the learner will be able to:
- Develop a wound care plan, including management and treatment interventions for:
- Pressure injuries
- Surgical wounds
- Skin tears
- MASD
- Demonstrate an understanding of the use and application of NPWT
- Describe prevention and management strategies for patients at risk of or with skin tears, pressure injuries, surgical wounds and MASD, including:
- IAD
- Periwound maceration
- Intertrigo and peristomal MASD
- Describe wound prevention and management considerations for patients with diverse cultural considerations and skin tones
Sessions are currently being offered at sites throughout Nova Scotia Health.
To register: Please contact Interprofessional Practice & Learning in your area for details.
Wound Care Level 3
Wound Care Level 3 will build on Level 1. It goes beyond the basics of skin and wound care to include:
- Prevention and management of wounds of the lower limb (arterial ulcers, venous leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers)
- Lower limb assessment, including ankle brachial index (ABI) and compression therapy
Level 3 is currently in development, with more details to come.
Unregulated Care Provider Skin and Wound Education
Unregulated Care Provider (UCP) Skin and Wound Education will provide the foundational learning for the basics of skin and wound dressing changes for unregulated care providers. This includes:
- Preventative skin care practices
- Pressure injury prevention
- UCP-appropriate wound dressing change education
This session is offered to Unregulated Care Providers, including CTAs (Care Team Assistants), CCAs (Continuing Care Assistants), PSWs (Personal Support Workers), and ACAs (Acute Care Aids), identified by their managers and/or CNEs (Clinical Nurse Educators). Please discuss attending this course with your manager or CNE.
