Time to complete: Approximately 20-25 minutes
About this Course
Skin and Wound Care in Long-Term Care is a self-paced orientation course that will equip or refresh long-term care team members on the knowledge and skills required to support residents.
Skin breakdown puts residents at risk for pain and infections and can decrease their quality of life. Taking care of residents’ skin and preventing breakdown of skin is an important part of their care.
After taking this course, learners will be able to:
- explain which risk factors impact skin integrity and wound healing in older adults
- explain which skin and wound care issues are of particular concern in long-term care
- recognize indicators that a resident is experiencing skin and wound care issues
- explain how frequently/when to assess residents for skin care and wound care issues.
- suggest care or practices that reduce risk factors and prevent skin breakdown or wounds
- communicate about a skin and wound care plan and treatment needs with residents, essential care partners, and other team members
- explain what unregistered team members should report to registered team members
- describe the staging of pressure injuries and skin tears
Learners will receive an Ontario CLRI certificate for completing this course.
About the Orientation eLearning series
The Orientation eLearning courses, created by the Ontario CLRI at the RIA, provide education for new team members during orientation, and for existing team members during their annual training. These scenario-based learning courses ensure that learners have the knowledge and skills needed to assist the people they support and are in line with Ministry of Long-Term Care guidelines. They were developed using evidence-based best practices and adult education principles, in collaboration with subject matter experts and LTC leaders.
Audience
This course is for long-term care team members in clinical roles.
Acknowledgements
This eLearning course, part of the Orientation course series, was developed by the Ontario CLRI at RIA with the generous support of Schlegel Villages.
We would like to thank the people who contributed to the development and review of content for this course:
Subject Matter Experts
Kimberly Arquette, RN, BScN, Clinical Specialist, Schlegel Villages
Jennifer Bilbie RN, BScN, MCISc, CIC, Long-Term Care Nurse Consultant, Extendicare
Advisors
This course was developed in collaboration with an advisory panel of LTC team members: Julia Karls, Alison Harper, Tammy Casado, and
Abena Nyarko.
References
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Bassett, K. (2021). Connect, collaborate, co-create. Wound Care Canada, 19(2), 18.
Curley, M. A., Razmus, I. S., Roberts, K. E., & Wypij, D. (2003). Predicting pressure ulcer risk in pediatric patients: The Braden Q Scale. Nursing Research, 52(1), 22–33.
Edwards, H, Courtney, M, Chang, AM, Finlayson, K, Gibb, M, & Parker, C. (2010) Promoting Healthy Skin: A Self-Directed Learning Resource for Residential Aged Care Workers (web based interactive DVD). Brisbane: Queensland University of Technology.
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Fletcher, J., Beeckman, D., Boyles, A., Fumarola, S., Kottner, J., McNichol, L., Moore, Z., Sarkar, N., Stenius, M., & Voegeli, D. (2020). International best practice recommendations: Prevention and management of moisture-associated skin damage (MASD). Wounds International.
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Orsted, H. L., Keast, D. H., Forest-Lalande, L., Kuhnke, J. L., O’Sullivan-Drombolis, D., Jin, S., Haley, J., & Evans, R. (2017a). Best practice recommendations for the prevention and management of wounds. In Foundations of Best Practice for Skin and Wound Management. A supplement of Wound Care Canada. https://www.woundscanada.ca/docman/public/health-care-professional/bpr-workshop/165-wc-bpr-prevention-and-management-of-wounds/file
Orsted, H. L., Keast, D. H., Forest-Lalande, L., Kuhnke, J., O’Sullivan-Drombolis, D., Jin, S., Haley, J., & Evans, R. (2017b). Skin: Anatomy, physiology and wound healing. In Foundations of Best Practice for Skin and Wound Management. A supplement of Wound Care Canada. www.woundscanada.ca/docman/public/health-care-professional/bprworkshop/166-wc-bpr-skin-physiology/file
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