Welcome and Introduction

Essential Physical Assessment Skills

Nurses are essential in the early detection of clinical triggers that may suggest a patient is deteriorating or has already become acutely unwell. Appropriate and timely assessment is known to reduce morbidity and mortality, thus improving patient outcomes. This session reviews important assessment considerations, including:

• Why we assess our patients
• Vitally important “vital signs” – why some clinical cues are neglected
• Top tips for quick recognition of acute deterioration
• Review of key principles of assessment, including documentation and National Standards

Fluid and Electrolyte Balance

Failure to recognise and appropriately treat fluid and electrolyte imbalances can have fatal consequences. Knowledge and understanding of normal physiological processes is essential for accurate patient assessment. This session will refresh your knowledge and assist you to get up-to-speed of the different types of fluids and their uses. Topics include:

• What are the normal physiological processes of fluid balance?
• What is hypovolaemic shock? How would you recognise it and what might the causes be?
• What intravenous fluids should be used and when?
• How do you recognise electrolyte disturbances early?

Surviving Sepsis – The Importance of Early Recognition

Sepsis is a potentially fatal condition caused by a whole-of-body inflammatory response to severe infection. Preventing mortality related to sepsis begins with early detection and timely interventions. This session uses case scenarios to explain the pathophysiological mechanisms by which sepsis develops. It will look at how you can detect the early warning signs of sepsis. Finally, it will assist you to understand the evidence-based management of this potentially fatal condition. It includes:

• What are the new definitions of sepsis?
• Early recognition – what are the clinical signs of sepsis in adults?
• What next? How is sepsis managed?

The Clinical Nurse Detective – Methotrexate Toxicity

The potential for harm with any medication is a constant concern regardless of the administered drug. Methotrexate raises particular interest due to its potential to cause adverse outcomes. This session will look at Methotrexate toxicity, as well as a relevant real-life case study regarding medication safety. It includes:

• What are the pharmacokinetics of methotrexate?
• What adverse reactions can occur?
• How does toxicity present?
• Can toxicity be reversed?

Older People and Medicines

As people age, their ability to metabolise medicines changes. As many older adults take multiple medicines, it is essential that their effect on one another be understood by those administering them. In this session, you will consider how you can avoid the problems that may arise, and why medication review in older people is essential. It includes a note on distractions at the drug trolley and explores:

• Metabolism and medicines – how do we change?
• Medication delivery mechanisms – does one size fit all?
• What are the dangers of crushing medicines – are there other options?
• What are the top ten interactions to watch for?

Welcome and Review

The Chronic Wound: A Nursing Challenge

This session looks at the difficulties faced by older people once their skin has broken down and a chronic wound is established. It will discuss ways to manage the care of a person’s wound in difficult healing circumstances. If systemic disease is also present, wounds can rapidly develop from seemingly insignificant behaviours such as prolonged sitting. Topics include:

• What causes a wound to be detained in one of the phases of healing?
• What is the correct nursing care of such a wound?
• How can you avoid skin breakdown, including assessment for pressure injury?

More than Just Turning – Preventing Pressure Injuries

Reduced mobility is a common occurrence with ageing. As an older adult loses strength and the ability to move frequently, pressure injuries form in areas that are under sustained amounts of pressure. This session explains:

• What is a pressure injury?
• Who is at risk of developing a pressure injury?
• How can you reduce the risk of a pressure injury in an immobile patient?
• How do you reposition a person to reduce accumulated pressure in a certain area?
• When do you need to report a pressure injury?

Motivation and Diabetes

The diagnosis of diabetes can be overwhelming. The copious amounts of information regarding the disease, the complications, and the medications can make motivation a difficult area of discussion. This session includes:

• How to initiate best-practice approaches to lifestyle changes
• How to engage patients in education and motivation
• How to improve the self-management of diabetes

Being Hyper-Vigilant for Hypoglycaemia

Complications associated with diabetes, such as hypoglycaemia, can be severe. Prevention is paramount and can reduce the likelihood of a person experiencing a hypoglycaemic episode. This session will dive deeper into the prevention of diabetes emergencies, with a focus on hypoglycaemia. It includes:

• What is hypo unawareness?
• How can you identify hypoglycaemia?
• Complications associated with reoccurring hypoglycaemia?

ST What? Identifying Important ECG Changes

There are certain ECG changes that may be present in the context of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), which must be correctly identified and reported urgently. This session will use case studies to take a look at some of these important changes, helping you to immediately gain confidence and apply this knowledge to your clinical practice. It includes:

• What ECG changes may indicate a person is experiencing or has experienced chest pain?
• How do you identify ECG changes relating to myocardial ischaemia, injury, or infarction and what might this mean?

When Disaster Strikes at Night – Communicating Under Pressure

All types of disasters can strike in the night. It becomes increasingly more difficult when you’re under the pump with your patient load and need to get tasks finished. This session will look at a low fidelity, high occurrence situation to get you working together. It includes:

• How do you delegate tasks during an adverse event?
• How do you promote teamwork and why is it so useful?
• Why is communication key?