Managing Venous Leg Ulceration

Course details

This module aims to give participants opportunities to explore the topic of venous leg ulceration in depth and to enable critical practice in this specialised area of care. The demands of wound care and prevention require comprehensive and detailed analysis of the physiological and psychosocial components of the patient experience along with technical and practical skills to perform holistic assessment and to provide safe and effective treatment based upon current evidence.

This new level 9 module has been developed as a collaborative initiative between the School of Nursing and Midwifery, NUI Galway, the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick and the Department of Nursing Health Sciences and Disability Studies, St Angela’s College Sligo and our Health Services Partners. Currently there is no level 9 accredited module in existence in Ireland to meet the educational and skills needs of professionals working in the specialised area of venous leg ulceration. In addition to meeting the needs of these professionals the module also has potential to enhance the educational and social life of persons with venous leg ulceration. Having professionals educated and skilled in the assessment and management of venous leg ulcers has potential to ensure assessment and care of persons with venous leg ulcers is both evidenced based and quality driven.

Potential students will register and attend with their host third level institution but will share similar face to face and online learning resources. Syllabus content has been developed and agreed by curriculum development teams working collaboratively across the three host sites in partnership with health service representatives from hospital and community settings. Students will have access to a range of agreed and standardised online resources. The three face to face teaching days will also follow a structured format across the three sites in terms of modular content and sequencing of content. Students will have one day general induction and will attend their host site for face to face teaching.

Module content is structured around the following key themes:

• Epidemiology and pathophysiology of lower limb ulceration
• Wound healing and holistic assessment
• Wound management
• Wound infection
• Compression therapy
• Professional practice issues, practice competence