COURSE: IMMUNISATION TRAINING FOR NURSES

Course Content:

• The aims of immunisation:national policy and schedules
• The immune system and how vaccines work
• Vaccine preventable diseases
• The different types of vaccines used and their composition
• Current issues and controversies regarding immunisation
• Communication with patients and parents
• Legal aspects of vaccination
• Medicines management – Storage and handling of vaccines
• Correct administration of vaccines
• Anaphylaxis and other adverse events
• Documentation, record keeping and reporting
• Strategies for improving immunisation rates

COURSE: Injection Technique and Immunisation Training for HCSWs – Including Vitamin B12

Course Content:

• Infectious diseases and the immune system
• Seasonal influenza, pneumococcal disease and shingles
• Pandemic influenza, swine flu and avian flu
• Viruses and bacteria
• How antivirals, antibiotics and vaccines work
• How vaccines provide individual and herd immunity
• Pernicious anaemia and how vitamin B12 injections work
• At risk groups and their eligibility for vaccines
• Communication: what advice to give to patients and families
• Administration of vaccines and injections
• Side effects, contraindications and precautions
• The anatomy of injection site
• Correct administration techniques for intramuscular, subcutaneous and intranasal vaccination
• Practical injection sessions
• Storage and handling of vaccine and correct waste disposal
• Allergy, anaphylaxis and adverse events
• Anaphylaxis management and the requirement for BLS training
• Legal, professional and indemnity requirements regarding administration of prescription only medications by HCSWs
• Legal requirements regarding consent, documentation and confidentiality
• Competence: assessment, supervised practice and delegation

COURSE: THE ECG WORKSHOP

Course Content:

• Anatomy and physiology of the heart and conduction system
• Lead placement for recording a 12 lead ECG
• The normal 12 lead ECG and cardiac axis
• Atrial abnormalities
• Ventricular abnormalities
• Disorders of conduction
• Ischaemia Infarction and the ECG
• Rhythm recognition
• Clinical case studies

COURSE: VENEPUNCTURE AND CANNULATION

Course Content:

• Legal, professional and local policies regarding advanced roles for healthcare practitioners
• Accountability when performing phlebotomy Local policies regarding phlebotomy
• Guidance regarding consent
• Anatomy and physiology of veins and circulation
• Venepuncture sites
• Phlebotomy/Cannulation equipment
• Evidence based procedure using aseptic non touch technique
• Preparation of the patient/client
• Taking a blood culture
• Safety of the Practitioner – Safe practice in handling and disposing of sharps.
• Using an appropriate location for phlebotomy
• Risks and hazards of phlebotomy
• Documentation – Department of Health requirements for record keeping
• Practical skills workshop including –
  Vacutainers (and other safety equipment)
  Butterflies
  Insertion of indwelling cannulae
  Taking a blood sample
  How to reach competence

COURSE: PHLEBOTOMY

Course Content:

• Review of anatomy of the arm
• Infection control and health & safety
• Reasons for and complications of this invasive procedure
• Vein selection and demonstration of correct technique, choice of equipment and procedure
• Practical skills technique workshop
• The management of anaphylaxis
• Legal and professional responsibilities

COURSE: Arterial Puncture & Blood Gas Interpretation

Course Content:

• Practical workshop – site selection
• Review of infection control aspects
• Inaccuracies and complications
• Arterial puncture procedure
• Getting it right, dangers and complications
• Practical workshop – technique & theory assessment
• Legal and professional responsibilities

Blood Gas Interpretation

• Arterial blood gases metabolic and respiratory acidosis and alkalosis
• Step by step guide to ABG result Interpretation
• The ABG result and its impact on diagnosis and treatment rationale