Methods of Wound Debridement

The objective is to provide a summary of the professional accountability and legal issues associated with wound debridement alongside the theoretical basis to justify the decision-making process in the selection of the appropriate debriding agents.

A pre-course workbook will be sent 4 weeks prior to the face to face study days via email which will need to be completed and submitted it on Day 1 of the course.

A course pack will be provided on Day 1, which will include the course handbook, the notes from the presentations and other useful information.

Learning outcomes

Debridement describes the removal of dead or devitalised tissue, in particular matter and foreign bodies from a wound bed and is generally accepted as a necessary precursor to the formation of new tissue (EWMA 2013).

At the end of this two-day course delegates will be able to:

• Explore human anatomy and physiology including in depth revision of the buttock, sacrum and lower limbs
• Identify normal and abnormal wound healing including when biopsy may be required
• Examine wound debridement techniques and identify the differences between conservative sharp debridement and surgical debridement
• Demonstrate clinical knowledge and practice skills required to perform safe and effective wound debridement techniques, practiced in laboratory conditions
• Use analytic skills to appraise the available literature related to wound debridement
• Opportunity to develop academic writing at Level 7.

Course lead

Dr Fania Pagnamenta, Clinical Academic Nurse Consultant specialising in tissue viability and wound management.

Dr Pagnamenta has a real passion for wound care management and has years of experience supporting nurse colleagues on the wards to deliver wound care to their patients as well as colleagues’ professional development.

Academically, Dr Pagnamenta works at Northumbria University as a researcher where her main interests focus on leg ulceration, clinical pathways, and ways to prevent simple wounds from becoming chronic ulceration.

Audience and criteria

Registered nurses with a degree in nursing or related subject, working in a clinical area where wound care and wound debridement is undertaken on a weekly basis.

Applicants must identify a practice assessor in their organisation who is a designated Wound Care Health Professional

Applicants must also be working in a clinical area that currently supports learners, and where complex wound care is regularly undertaken.