The two Foundations of Wound Management units are delivered online over 10 weeks with tutor support. Each unit is equivalent to a 15-credit point postgraduate subject and can be used to apply for advanced standing into La Trobe’s School of Nursing and Midwifery postgraduate award courses.

The Foundations of Wound Management unit will unveil the complexities of wound care management and steps you through fundamental knowledge and best evidence decision making for health professionals working in a variety of settings including primary care, community care, acute care and specialised wound care services.

Building upon the knowledge and skills gained in Foundations of Wound Management A, the Foundations of Wound Management B unit will focus on developing the student with a repertoire of skills aimed at assisting clients with complex wound management challenges. Content presented includes the aetiology of the wound and how this impacts on wound decision making of the clinician to meet overall wound management goals. Considerations will be explored on factors affecting wound healing, advanced care decision making and contemporary intervention explored for burns, trauma, surgical wounds, tissue reconstruction and the chronic wound.

Case studies and online assessments are used to encourage students to draw from their learning, relevant research and experience to develop a holistic patient wound management plan.

Course content

Foundations of Wound Management A:

• Skin physiology and its function
• Physiology of wound healing
• Wound Assessment
• Wound bed preparation
• Understanding wound aetiology
• Different assaults on the skin
• Factors affecting wound healing
• Product decision making
• Developing a holistic wound management plan

Foundations of Wound Management B:

• Recap wound healing physiology
• Nutrition and wound healing
• Pain pathways and pain associated with wounds
• Decision making process in respect to wound closure
• Assessment of a burn patient aetiology
• Burns Management
• Trauma Injury and assessment of a traumatic injury
• Trauma Changes
• Surgical wound management and innovations
• Complex acute wound management

Assessments

There are two assessment tasks:

• Online quizzes
• Written case study

Extra requirements

1. Broadband internet access and an active email address that can be accessed at home during study periods.
2. Students must have basic computer literacy skills (e.g. Word or other word processing software)