What qualifications do you need to be a tissue viability nurse?
What qualifications do you need to be a tissue viability nurse?
Entry requirements
- Be a registered health or social care professional with a minimum of 12 months post registration experience.
- Registered with an appropriate governing body.
- Be currently working in a healthcare environment in which you are caring for clients with tissue viability/wound conditions.
What is tissue viability training?
Tissue Viability training is aimed at specialist healthcare professionals such as nurses and practitioners. These courses will develop skills and knowledge on wound management in patients. Topics covered will usually include ulcerations, complex wounds, tissue biopsy and the management of injuries.
What is the role of a tissue viability nurse?
The Tissue Viability Nurses deliver advice and support to both adult and child patients, as well as staff, in a number of different ways. This includes supporting inpatients and patients cared for in the wider community by district nurses, practice nurses, and providing help and advice to care homes.
What is meant by the term tissue viability?
“Tissue viability is a growing speciality that primarily considers all aspects of skin and soft tissue wounds including acute surgical wounds, pressure ulcers and all forms of leg ulceration.” – (Tissue Viability Society 2009). Pressure ulcers are an injury that breaks down the skin and underlying tissue.
How do you grade a pressure sore?
Pressure sores are graded to four levels, including:
- grade I – skin discolouration, usually red, blue, purple or black.
- grade II – some skin loss or damage involving the top-most skin layers.
- grade III – necrosis (death) or damage to the skin patch, limited to the skin layers.
When would you refer to the tissue viability team?
Step 5. Tissue Viability Referral – This should be submitted when the plan of care that has been implemented following the assessment, is not progressing as expected. This form includes referrals for complex wounds, chronic oedema, skin problems and pressure damage problems associated with seating and posture.