Physical Examination Skills 14 21 28 July 2022

This 3 day workshop provides a comprehensive guide to performing clinical examinations. This course is suitable for nurses, pharmacists, paramedics and allied health professionals who regularly assess patients and will develop your skills in using a systematic approach when performing a clinical examination.

Who should attend?

All registered nurses and allied healthcare professionals

Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists, Paramedics, community matrons

Pre Requisites

Registered healthcare professionals with the NMC, HCPC or GPHC with a minimum of 1 year post qualifying experience.

Aims

This 3 day course aims to develop your clinical examination skills in assessing the cardio-respiratory, abdominal, neurological and auditory ssystems.

Learning Outcomes

Develop a basic understanding of the anatomy of the heart, lungs, abdominal and ENT systems.

Undertake a structured approach to history taking and clinical examination of the main body systems.

Critically consider anatomical and physiological principles to undertake an effective clinical assessment and develop a differential diagnosis.

Develop a systematic approach to safely assess and manage patients , including history taking and identification of red flags.

Develop skills in top to toe examination.

Recognise normal and abnormal findings when performing a physical examination and when to escalate management.

Course Outline

• Cardiac assessment, examination and common abnormalities. Recognising symptoms of heart failure, abnormal heart sounds and hypertension.
• Respiratory System : Auscultation of the chest. Identifying different lung sounds and associated red flags. Recognising symptoms of pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma and chest infection
• Abdominal Assessment: Examination of the abdomen and identifying of underlying structures. Recognising an acute abdomen, appendicitis, liver disease, IBD and other common abdominal disorders
• Neurological Assessment: Cranial Nerves, Upper and Lower motor neurones, tone, power and sensation including co-ordination and reflexes. Recognising hyper and hyporeflexia, neurological disorders and upper and lower motor neurone disorders.
• ENT Exam: Examination of the ear to identify the normal landmarks of the ear, otitis media or externa, disorders of the tympanic membrane and an overview of dizziness.
• Eye Examination : Examination of the eye and recognising opthalmological emergencies.

Assessment

There is a “MOCK OSCE” at the end of the session. This is for learning purposes and there is no requirement to have a formal PASS grade.

Whats Included

• Handouts
• Skills Competency Document
• Classroom session
• MOCK OSCE

**** Limited places available

***Attendance of this course does not award competence. You are encouraged to identify a mentor should you wish to increase your competence in performing a structured physical examination.