Fundamentals of Lower Limb Management

Overview

This face-to-face module aims to equip clinicians with the knowledge and tools to provide holistic care for people with lower limb conditions (including leg ulceration and chronic oedema). The course covers components of holistic assessment, diagnosis, treatment options and management plans to facilitate timely healing and prevention of recurrence.

In order to complete the course both days must be attended.

• Duration: 2 days
• Delegates: 20 max

Module objectives

• To understand the anatomy and physiology of the vascular and lymphatic systems in order to determine underlying aetiology and disease progression
• To identify risk factors for leg ulcers and oedema and understand how to modify these
• To be able to conduct a holistic assessment
• To identify reasons for delayed healing and poor outcomes and develop an effective care plan to support timely healing
• Exploration of patient experiences and clinician attitudes and how this may affect care
• Identify management options and introduction to local pathways
• To carry out a holistic lower limb assessment in order to diagnose aetiology
• Learn how to undertake a manual doppler assessment, identify pedal pulse types and calculate ankle brachial pressure index
• Understand the theory of graduated compression, La Place’s Law and Pascal’s Law
• Exploration of the benefits of compression therapy and overcoming barriers to implementation
• Introduction to effective application technique of Actico, K2 and Ko-Flex with an opportunity to practice under supervision
• Practice effective application technique of below knee Actico, K-Two and Ko-Flex bandaging for venous leg ulceration and thigh high Actico bandaging for chronic, including stump bandaging to toes

Who should attend?

This course is aimed at all clinicians involved in the management of patients with leg ulceration and/or chronic oedema, and includes both registered and non-registered nurses.

 

Requirements

Prior to attending this course attendees must complete the online Introduction and core tissue viability modules course. This is a requirement for all the Tissue Viability Courses but only needs to be completed once.

Introduction course content

This consists of the following videos to be watched:

• Partnership working: explores the issue of patient concordance and introduces the technique of Motivational Interviewing in our interactions with patients as a way of engaging patients in their care
• Holistic patient assessment (Tissue Viability): explores the variety of internal and external risk factors that can contribute towards delayed wound healing
• Nutrition for wound healing & pressure ulcer prevention: offers practical advice on assessing and enhancing nutritional intake to both prevent wounds and aid wound healing

Completion of the Core Module and attendance at both days of this 2-day, face to face course is required to be certified as having completed the course.

Attendees are also advised to complete the Wound prevention, assessment and management course before attending this course.

Additional notes

Please bring your own lunch. Tea and Coffee will be provided. To help towards reducing costs and waste, please consider bringing your own cup.

Please come dressed in suitable clothing to partake in practicing doppler assessment and compression bandaging on each other. Please bring a doppler with you.

This training provides evidence of Continuing Professional Development and can be used in the NMC Nurse Revalidation process.