8:30am - Registrations Open
9.00am - The Deteriorating Patient – What’s All the Fuss About!
An overview of the research and recommendations about recognising and • responding to deteriorating patients in
Australia and overseas.
- Who are ‘ACHCQS’ and what are their recommendations?
- What do the important terms and acronyms: “Track & Trigger” charts, MEWS and ISBAR refer to and why do you need to know about these?
10.00 Morning Tea and Coffee
10.30 - Review of Key Clinical Deterioration
You know when a patient is deteriorating – don’t you? In this interesting session you will review the key indicators of change. It includes:
- What are you watching for and how will you recognize changing status when it happens?
- A review of how to identify ‘at risk‘ patients and know when to escalate care and seek help.
- Refresh your knowledge of how to identify whether a patient is just asleep or unconscious, and the likely reason why a patient is so restless.
- Allaying patient fears in such circumstances.
11.00pm - The Night Duty Team
This session will review the differences between night and day shifts. It will encourage discussion and debate.
- What is different between working days and nights?
- How does this change affect your behaviour, decision-making ability and general functioning?
- Are there some unique issues you face at night e.g. staffing levels, communication problems, getting help when you need it, identifying “at risk” patients?
- How do you deal with or overcome these problems / issues?
12.30pm - Lunch Break
1.15pm - Clinical Reasoning 1 Problems with Chest Pain, Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
Early recognition of changes in cardiovascular functioning are critical. In this session, we will explore the clinical features of impaired cardiovascular functioning and help you understand the possible causes, significance and required interventions related to these physiological changes. Includes a review of the significance of:
- chest pain
- changes in heart rate or rhythm
- hypotension or peripheral ‘shutdown’ in a patient.
2:30pm - Afternoon Tea and Coffee
3.00pm - Clinical Scenarios for Group Review
In this interactive session, you will have an opportunity to test your ability to analyse assessment findings through the presentation of hypothetical clinical scenarios. You will then have an opportunity to self-test your decision-making skills in determining likely causes of the problem and determining nursing interventions required.
4.00pm - Close of Day One of Conference Program
9:00am - Day Two Begins
9.00am - Clinical Reasoning 2 Changes in Respiratory Function
Respiratory disorders are a common reason for hospital admission – patients may be experiencing a range of problems including:
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airway obstruction
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respiratory distress/difficulty
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onset of dyspnea
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impaired oxygenation
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chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
In this first session of day two, you will have an opportunity to identify the significance of your assessment findings, make a differential nursing diagnosis and decide on appropriate nursing interventions?
What is the current research telling us about oxygen administration? (There are clear indications and contra-indications).
10.30am - Morning Tea and Coffee
11.00am -Clinical Reasoning 3 Identifying and Responding to Metabolic Problems
Your patient has an elevated temperature, abnormal blood gas levels (BGLs), altered gastrointestinal (GI) function, electrolyte imbalance, or increased sedation score / altered state of consciousness.
Can you recognize and respond appropriately:
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Identify what is abnormal?
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Explore possible reasons for theseabnormalities?
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Make sound decisions and interventions and know when to seek assistance?
11.45am - Clinical Scenarios for Group Review
In this interactive session, you will once again have an opportunity to test your ability to analyse a range of assessment findings and make decisions about likely causes and interventions required. The clinical scenarios relate to respiratory and metabolic conditions.
12.30pm - Lunch Break
1.15 Clinical Reasoning 4 Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues
The unique challenges facing night nurses who have less staff to assist and who may need to make rapid decisions when a patient deteriorates will be reflected on in this clinical reasoning session. An awareness of your scope of practice and knowledge of the relevant organizational, professional, legal and ethical guidelines relating to your role will assist you to make sound, safe and appropriate decisions.
We will explore some of the written guidelines you can use to clarify your responsibilities in relation to these aspects of nursing care.
2.30pm - Afternoon Tea and Coffee
3:00pm - Clinical Scenarios for Group Review
In this final session you will again self-test yourself by analysing given assessment findings in a range of complex scenarios which feature problems explored over the last few days.
In small groups you will explore likely reasons for altered assessment findings and make decisions about probable causes and the appropriate nursing / medical interventions required.
4:00pm - Close of Conference and Evaluations
Heather Schubert OAMHeather has extensive experience and qualifications in acute care nursing and education including management roles in ICU and CCU. She teaches Basic and Advanced Life Support and has an interest in assisting all nurses – regardless of their training level - to develop enhanced clinical assessment skills and to take a more active role in the management of emergencies. Heather was a founding member of the S.A. Branch of the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses (previously CACCN), is a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing, Australia and is on the SA committee of the Australian Resuscitation Council. She has her own business as a Consultant Nurse Educator, is a Clinical Associate of the Adelaide University and has taught aspects of emergency and acute care extensively in metropolitan and rural communities throughout South Australia. She was awarded an Order of Australia in 2009 for her services to critical care nursing and education in SA.
Kay AppletonNurse Teacher in a TAFE Diploma of Nursing program. Concurrent with this work, she regularly teaches critical care skills as part of the team at Rural Emergency Care Consultants and Heather Schubert & Associates and she is a Clinical Teacher/Facilitator at the University of Sth. Aust for undergraduate nurses and Overseas RNs. Kay has a high level of expertise in the skills required for Basic & Advanced Life Support. Further, she is an active member of the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses.
