Wound and Ostomy Care Course

Lesson 1 • Wound Classification Systems

Introduces standardised staging and classification frameworks for acute and chronic wounds. Accurate classification directs appropriate treatment selection throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Skin Structure and Function

Covers epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layers with their protective and sensory roles. Provides anatomical context essential for understanding wound depth classification.

Lesson 3 • Phases of Wound Healing

Explains haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling in sequence. Links each phase to observable clinical signs used in wound assessment.

Lesson 1 • Wound Bed and Periwound Assessment

Evaluates wound bed tissue, exudate, odour, and surrounding skin condition. Periwound findings guide moisture management and infection screening decisions.

Lesson 2 • Patient History and Risk Factors

Gathers medical, nutritional, and lifestyle data that influence wound healing potential. Contextualises wound findings within the patient's overall health profile.

Lesson 3 • Wound Measurement Techniques

Teaches linear, tracing, and volumetric measurement methods for consistent wound monitoring. Accurate measurement enables objective tracking of healing progress over time.

Lesson 4 • Validated Assessment Tools

Applies standardised scoring tools such as the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool and Braden Scale. Structured tools improve consistency and support interdisciplinary communication.

Lesson 1 • Clinical Signs of Wound Infection

Identifies local infection indicators including erythema, warmth, purulence, and delayed healing. Distinguishes local from spreading and systemic infection requiring escalation.

Lesson 2 • Wound Culture Methods

Teaches swab, tissue biopsy, and fluid aspiration culture techniques with proper specimen handling. Correct technique ensures culture results accurately reflect wound bioburden.

Lesson 3 • Systemic Antibiotic Considerations

Outlines indications for systemic antibiotics, stewardship principles, and the nurse's role in monitoring. Reinforces that topical management is primary and systemic therapy is adjunctive.

Lesson 4 • Topical Antimicrobial Agents

Reviews antiseptics, silver-based dressings, iodine, and honey products with evidence for each. Matches agent selection to wound type, bioburden level, and patient tolerance.

Lesson 1 • Mechanical Debridement Techniques

Addresses wet-to-dry dressings, wound irrigation, and hydrotherapy with current evidence for each. Highlights the non-selective nature of mechanical methods and appropriate use cases.

Lesson 2 • Sharp and Surgical Debridement

Teaches conservative sharp debridement at the bedside and criteria for surgical referral. Scope-of-practice boundaries and competency validation requirements are emphasised.

Lesson 3 • Biological and Advanced Debridement

Introduces larval therapy and ultrasound-assisted debridement as adjunctive options. Prepares students to recognise when advanced modalities add clinical value.

Lesson 4 • Autolytic and Enzymatic Debridement

Covers moisture-retentive dressings and topical enzymes that selectively liquefy necrotic tissue. These conservative methods suit patients who cannot tolerate more aggressive approaches.

Lesson 1 • Dressing Evaluation and Adjustment

Teaches reassessment of dressing performance at each change and criteria for switching products. Iterative evaluation ensures dressing choice evolves with wound healing status.

Lesson 2 • Moist Wound Healing Principles

Explains the physiological basis for maintaining a moist wound environment and its healing advantages. Provides the theoretical foundation for all dressing selection decisions in this chapter.

Lesson 3 • Primary Dressing Categories

Surveys foams, hydrocolloids, hydrogels, alginates, and films with indications and contraindications. Builds a decision framework linking wound characteristics to dressing properties.

Lesson 4 • Dressing Application and Change Technique

Demonstrates aseptic dressing change procedure, securing methods, and frequency determination. Correct technique prevents trauma, contamination, and periwound skin damage.

Lesson 1 • Risk Assessment and Prevention Planning

Uses validated risk tools to stratify patients and build individualized prevention bundles. Prevention planning integrates repositioning, support surfaces, nutrition, and skin care.

Lesson 2 • Pressure Injury Pathophysiology

Explains how sustained pressure, shear, friction, and microclimate damage tissue from bone outward. Understanding the mechanism directs prevention strategy selection.

Lesson 3 • Support Surface Selection

Differentiates reactive and active support surfaces by pressure redistribution mechanism and indication. Correct surface selection is a primary prevention and treatment intervention.

Lesson 4 • Stage-Specific Treatment Protocols

Maps dressing, debridement, and offloading interventions to each pressure injury stage and category. Builds on dressing and debridement knowledge from prior chapters.

Lesson 1 • Pouching System Components

Explains one-piece and two-piece systems, skin barriers, pouches, and accessories with selection criteria. Component knowledge enables customization for individual stoma characteristics.

Lesson 2 • Pouching Application Technique

Demonstrates step-by-step pouch change procedure including skin preparation and barrier sizing. Correct technique prevents leakage, skin damage, and patient anxiety.

Lesson 3 • Ostomy Types and Surgical Anatomy

Differentiates colostomy, ileostomy, and urostomy by location, output characteristics, and surgical construction. Anatomical knowledge underpins stoma assessment and pouching decisions.

Lesson 4 • Stoma Assessment

Teaches systematic evaluation of stoma color, size, height, and peristomal skin integrity. Accurate assessment identifies complications early and guides pouching system adjustments.

Lesson 1 • Wound Dehiscence and Evisceration

Teaches recognition and immediate management of surgical wound dehiscence and evisceration emergencies. Rapid response skills prevent life-threatening complications.

Lesson 2 • Peristomal Skin Complications

Identifies and treats irritant dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, pseudoverrucous lesions, and fungal infections. Each condition requires a distinct intervention strategy.

Lesson 3 • Fistula Assessment and Management

Covers enterocutaneous and enteroatmospheric fistula classification, output management, and skin protection. Fistula care integrates wound, ostomy, and nutritional management skills.

Lesson 4 • Stoma Complications

Addresses prolapse, retraction, stenosis, hernia, and necrosis with clinical management and referral criteria. Distinguishes complications manageable at the bedside from those requiring surgical consultation.