Certificate in Wound Debridement (Level 7)

Are you a health professional who wants to upskill in wound debridement procedures? 

Non-healing wounds greatly affect a person’s quality of life and present an economic healthcare issue. Chronic wounds are estimated to cost first-world countries between 3-5% of total healthcare expenditure. 

This is New Zealand’s first and only qualification in wound debridement and provides competency in conservative sharp wound debridement (CSWD). 

To apply for this Certificate, you’ll need to be an existing health professional (EN, RN, NP, Podiatrist, Doctor) working with adults and performing wound care procedures (at least weekly). You’ll need organisational support from your employer to undertake mentor supervised CSWD procedures within your health care setting.   

Benefits 

• Train under New Zealand Wound Care Society clinical nurse specialists.
• Study programme co-designed by international Wound Care expert and educator, Wendy White.
• Practical workshops with a significant focus on developing clinical skills.
• Work-based learning ensures opportunities to safely practice clinical skills.

This programme is delivered by the New Zealand Wound Care Society and Wendy White in collaboration with Otago Polytechnic. 

Download the flyer for this certificate here > 

Entry requirements 

Academic requirements

You must currently be, or be equivalent to, one of the following:

• A Registered Doctor with the Medical Council of New Zealand
• A Registered Nurse with the Nursing Council of New Zealand
• Accredited as an Enrolled Nurse with the Nursing Council of New Zealand, with at least three years of experience
• Hold an annual practising certificate issued by the Podiatrists Board of New Zealand. 
  
  

English Language requirements 

If English is not your first language, you must provide:

• New Zealand University Entrance OR
• Overall Academic IELTS 6.0 with no individual band score lower than 5.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years) OR
• Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer awide range of English programmes.

Other requirements 

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Disclose any criminal convictions prior to commencing the programme.
• Consent to a police check prior to commencing the programme. 

The above is to ensure that, while on work placement, you comply with workplace obligations for the protection for vulnerable adults under the Crimes Act 2012. See sections 151, 195, and 195A.

• You must have access to a workplace with the appropriate supervision, equipment, and patient load. You'll be required to submit this Letter of Employer Support with your application to confirm your workplace can provide these necessities and can support your learning. 

Recognition of prior learning

Some learners may come to this Certificate with prior knowledge and work experience. This programme has been structured as a group of smaller courses to allow provision for this. Provided learners can pass the assessments for the relevant course, recognition of prior learning will be allowed. 

Covid-19 vaccination requirements 

If you want to apply for this programme, we’ll need to see evidence of your Covid-19 vaccinations (including types and dates). You need to have had three doses. We’re legally obliged to collect this additional information from you as this programme is covered by the Covid-19 Public Health Response (Vaccination) Order 2021. 

Please just complete our online application process as normal. As part of the application process, you’ll be asked to provide your vaccination record. 

The Government have advised that the only proof of vaccination that we can accept is a vaccination record PDF from your My Covid Record. 

Find out how to get your vaccination record here >

Selection process

If the number of applicants exceeds the available places, a waitlist will be used to ensure preference is given to applicants in order of application. 

Courses 

What and Why of Wound Debridement (3 credits)

Develop an understanding of pathology, pathophysiology, aetiology, and factors affecting wound healing, and how and when wound debridement can benefit patients. 

Topics

• History and relevance of wound debridement
• Aetiology of wounds
• Pathophysiology of wounds
• Barriers to healing 
• Wound infection and biofilm
• Wound hygiene

Weeks 1-3

• 8 hours per week online directed learning
• 5 hours self-directed learning
• 1 hour written assessment 

Debridement Modalities (3 credits)

Discuss and justify the selection of a range of wound debridement modalities to promote optimal clinical outcomes for wounds in adult patients. 

Topics

• Debridement options
• Indications, contraindications, referral criteria
• Scope of practice
• Multidisciplinary approaches 

Weeks 4-6

• 8 hours per week online directed learning
• 5 hours self-directed learning
• 1 hour written assessment 

Pain Management (2 credits)

Evaluate pain and provide appropriate and ongoing pain management for patients under going wound debridement. 

Topics

• Pathophysiology of pain
• Evaluation of pain
• Pain management options
• Pharmacology of pain management options 

Weeks 7-8

• 8 hours per week online directed learning
• 3 hours self-directed learning
• 1 hour written assessment 

Clinical Assessment and Skills (7 credits)

Develop practical clinical skills in holistically assessing a wound and safely performing wound debridement modalities. 

Topics

• Lower limb and foot assessment 
• Arterial and venous investigations and management options 
• Diabetic foot and multidisciplinary approach considerations
• Māori models of care (e.g. Te Whare Tapa Whā)
• Two-day practical debridement workshops includes conservative sharp wound debridement practical skills. 

Weeks 9-16

• 16 hours (2 day) face-to-face workshop
• 10 hours online directed learning
• 30 hours work-based learning
• 10 hours self-directed learning 

Weeks 17-26

• No teaching – these weeks are to allow you enough time to gather your portfolio of evidence for assessment
• 4 hours portfolio assessment (observed practical, case study, evaluate conversation) 

Your workload

This Certificate has 16 weeks of teaching and then 10 weeks of work-based, clinical placement (this may be at your usual place of work or at another organisation depending on where your mentor is located). 

All study is highly-structured and self-directed and you will need to have good time management skills. You should typically aim for around 9 hours of study per week. You’ll need to complete at least 30 hours of work-based learning during this programme. 

Additional costs

You’ll need to cover the cost of any travel and accommodation (if required) associated with attending our two-day Dunedin Campus workshop.

Your workplace will be required to confirm they can provide adequate resourcing of equipment, patient case load, and supervision. You'll need to submit this Letter of Employer Support along with your application (this letter is also linked to in the Entry Requirements above).

Student loans and allowances are not available for this programme.