Health Care Education
Workshops for Individual Caregivers and Nurses
Assessment After a Fall
- 3-4 hour workshop
- For all team members; LPNs, RNs, PCWs, CCAs, HSWs, Recreation Staff, PT, OT, etc.
Workshop Description
Learn to assess after a fall as simply as A-B-C. Even with the best prevention plans, falls may happen and team members need to assess promptly, accurately and with confidence in order to make sure that clients receive the appropriate follow up assessment and care. Tips for preventing falls and injury related to falls are included. This workshop is appropriate for all team members. Although nurses are usually responsible for assessing and planning for care post falls, collaboration with other team members often results in what is needed in a more practical way. Patients, residents and clients benefit from LPNs, RNs, CCAs, Recreation Staff, PT, OT and other team members having this knowledge and skill. We review the roles and responsibilities of each caregiver as well as how to communicate and document effectively to ensure a team approach to appropriate after fall care for each person.Caregiver Feedback:
- “The facilitator was great! Very engaging and passionate about subject matter.”
- “Thank you for all the excellent, logical and simple tips.”
- “Targeted info. Straightforward and common sense based. Thank you.”
- “Good real life stories – I could relate easily.”
- “Informative, excellent refresher. Good length. Not too long, not too short.”
- “Awesome instructor! Love your ‘stories’ because they are interesting, keep my attention and help me remember!”
- “This education will improve my assessments post falls. I have a better understanding of what to look for and why.”
- “Information was clear. Great refresher and also learned more. Great job!”
Choking: Prevention and First Aid
- 2-3 hours course
- For all team members; LPNs, RNs, PCWs, CCAs, HSWs, Recreation, Physio, etc.
Workshop Description
Choking is a life-threatening, breathing emergency and a person may die if first aid is not given immediately. Caregivers learn how they can help to prevent choking as well as how to clear the airway. Caregivers must promptly and confidently recognize appropriate interventions to resolve airway obstruction quickly in a variety of situations; in bed, in a wheelchair, on the floor, standing, when pregnant, when obese, with abdominal wounds or devices and other. These techniques are demonstrated and practised in the workshop.
Workshop participants also review measures to prevent choking. Instruction includes how to identify, change and/or work with risk factors such as dementia, swallowing disorders, loose or missing teeth, Parkinson’s, MS and others. Participants review the five S’s to optimize nutrition of clients who are fed by their caregivers. We focus on each caregiver’s role in choking prevention, recognition, intervention and follow up. The information in this workshop complements, and may substitute for, the regular mandatory education provided in continuing care.
Caregiver Feedback:
- “Great teacher who is down to earth and keeps my attention.”
- “Very important information we all should know.”
- “Excellent presenter who knows her stuff.”
- “I got a lot out of this workshop. Thank you.”
- “Excellent comprehensive review! I can use this information every day.”
- “Great speaker and excellent demonstrations.”
- “Informative, useful, interesting.”
Enhanced Assessment Skills: A Review for Nurses
- 8 hours per module
- For LPNs and RNs
Workshop Description
These modules are for LPNs and RNs working with adults in any health care setting e.g. long-term, residential, home and acute care. Physical examination and health assessment are core competencies for all nurses and we often need some review to be competent and confident.
To accommodate nurses’ busy lives, the assessment skills review is offered in 8-hour modules. Nurses may register for any or all of these modules and complete them in any order. Please note that many nurses would benefit from being competent with the content of Module 1 first because it contains such foundational information (Principles of Assessment, Integumentary System, Peripheral Vascular System and Guidelines for Documenting).
Each module is ‘enhanced’ by including additional practical topics to help nurses integrate the learning into their day-to-day nursing practice and to facilitate collaboration within the team for all caregivers. Some examples of additional topics include assessment after a fall, tips for assessing clients with dementia and/or delirium, how to create and use a care plan, what to communicate, to whom and how to plan for follow up care.
Each system review includes A&P, the assessment process with demo and practice, and common pathology among adults and the frail elderly. The content and format is intended to build confidence and skill in assessment, critical thinking, documentation, care plan development and communicating within the team.
Nurses review and enhance their assessment skills using a ‘hands on’ approach in a comfortable, informal setting with a small group of colleagues.
Upon registration, system A&P will be emailed for review as needed. The suggested textbook is the Pocket Companion of Physical Examination and Health Assessment (Jarvis, 2014 or later). If you need a textbook it can be purchased with your registration.
These modules are working! Nurses report that they have a better understanding of the assessment process and their findings. They are more confident, efficient and faster after completing a module with Alison.
Module 1: Inspect-Palpate-Percuss-Auscultate, Integument and Peripheral Vascular Assessments, How to Document Findings and Plan
Module 2: Respiratory Assessment, Tips with COPD, Tips with Pneumonia
Module 3: Abdominal Assessment, Choking: Prevention and 1st Aid, Optimizing Bowel Function
Module 4: Musculoskeletal and Neuro Assessments, Assessment After a Fall, Tips with Dementia and/or Delirium
Module 5: Heart/Cardiovascular Assessment, Frail Elderly and Vital Signs, How to Document Findings and Plan
Caregiver Feedback:
- “I wish I’d learned it this way the first time around.”
- “This helps me to give better care more efficiently.”
- “Love the practical applications!”
- “I just came for a review. I learned a lot. More than I expected.”
- “It was good to start with A&P review. Demonstrating and then helping us to assess worked really well.”
- “Great presenter – easy to listen to and learn from. I was comfortable learning in a small group like this.”
- “The information flow was great, good interaction and discussions. It didn’t seem like eight hours. Seemed less.”
- “Thank you – I finally understand the difference between arterial and venous blood flow well enough to teach others.”
- “Great instructor. Very interesting and informative. I wish I found you before.”
- “Lively instruction, great examples, good use of plain language.”
- “Alison makes complicated things easy to understand. Slides were great. Examples very helpful. Moved along at a good pace.”
- “I found it interesting and easy to absorb your information.”
- “Interesting stories/examples. Sense of humour. Constructive feedback on documentation. Great day.”
- ”The information was interesting, useful and Alison obviously loves what she does.”
Health Care Documentation
- 4-8 hours
- For all members of the team who are expected to do any documentation
Workshop Description
Do you dislike charting? Do you feel your time could be used doing more important things? Does it take you a long time to chart? Do you put it off or ask others to do it for you? Would you like to help others improve their charting? Are you concerned that your documentation may not meet established standards?
If the answer is “yes” to any of these questions, this workshop may be just the thing for you!
This workshop is appropriate for all types of caregivers (CCA, RN, LPN, Rec, SW, PT, etc.) who are expected to document progress notes or complete forms using relevant, factual, descriptive data. The topic may seem ‘dry’ to some but the approach to learning is very interesting and practical. Participants will review the ‘who, what, where, why, when and how’ of documentation. There is opportunity to practice documenting about a number of commonly experienced situations such as when a person is short of breath, confused, in pain and other situations chosen by workshop participants. With the guidance of an expert, you can practice the ‘how’ of documenting. Learn how to clearly communicate client care and condition while meeting professional, legal and organizational requirements.
Caregiver Feedback:
- “I did not expect to enjoy this workshop. I came out of obligation and I learned with great interest. The time just flew.”
- “Alison has great energy and built strong trust with the group with her use of real life experiences.”
- “Asked what we wanted from the workshop at the beginning and then addressed everything mentioned. Well done!”
- “Loved this workshop. Gained a lot of knowledge to bring back to coworkers. Great instructor.”
- “I might just dislike charting now instead of hating it. LOL.”
- “Everyone in our facility needs this!”
- “Please come back and do more education.”
- “I wish I’d known this before. Charting is not scary now.”
Intramuscular Injections Review
- 2 hours
- For LPNs and RNs
Workshop Description
Intramuscular injections are used when other routes of administration are not recommended or possible. Because this is an invasive procedure with the potential for serious injury, and sometimes used in an acute situation, it is imperative that nurses are able to choose appropriate sites, landmark accurately, and administer the medication safely and efficiently.
In this 2-hour workshop, nurses are taught how to assess the individual and the situation in order to adjust the process as needed for the frail elderly, those with smaller or larger muscle mass, those with less or more adipose tissue and others. Tips for landmarking in consideration of dementia and delirium are included.
Caregiver Feedback:
- “Very good refresher. I feel much more confident in landmarking. Thank you!”
- “We should have more skills offered this way.”
- “Group discussion with non-judgmental Q&A was great.”
- “Not boring. Not like a lecture.”
- “Two hours was perfect – no shorter.”
Phlebotomy Skills for Nurses
- 8 hours
- For LPNs and RNs
Workshop Description
Learn phlebotomy skills (venapuncture/blood taking) from an RN educator with over 30 years experience. Be accurate, safe and detail oriented. Participants have the opportunity to develop their competence and confidence in a small, informal group setting. Registration is usually limited to six nurses. Larger numbers may be accommodated with additional faculty as needed. The workshop begins with a demonstration followed by theory, instruction and another demonstration. Nurses then have the opportunity to take blood from each other as appropriate. Many practical tips are provided, including those related to the frail elderly and people with ‘hard to get’ veins. This workshop is appropriate for nurses who need a review as well as for those who are learning phlebotomy skills for the first time.
Caregiver Feedback:
- “I feel much more comfortable and confident taking blood now. Thanks.”
- “This education session was fantastic. There was plenty of time to practice skills.”
- “A lot of information that is delivered very well and understandable to make me feel confident in the procedure.”
- “I like learning in a small group like this. Thank you for your patience and flexibility.”
- “You are an awesome teacher. You addressed this procedure without tedious speech. You were patient and helpful. I feel very good about my phlebotomy skills now.”
- “I loved the multiple demos, the practical tips and how organized this workshop was. It flowed nicely for me.”
- “Comfortable, fun, free to ask questions without judgement.”
- “I think Alison was great and provided lots of tips and tricks. Positive energy which doesn’t bore anyone!! Every nurse in this building should have this.”
- “Extremely helpful instructor who is very engaging. Very easy to understand workshop!”
- “Excellent review. I’ve been taking blood for years and I still learned lots!”
Planning for Care as a Team
- 8 hours
- For all team members; LPNs, RNs, CCAs, RSWs, Physio, Recreation, Dietary, Social Work, etc.
Workshop Description
The input of every member of the team can be important to develop and carry out an individualized plan of care that actually works for each resident and caregiver. Nurses are responsible for the development of the care plan but cannot do it as well on their own! This workshop was developed specifically for long-term care to help team members collaborate and plan for providing the best care they can for each resident. Care plans are not supposed to be a form that is revisited every few months for administration purposes. They are supposed to guide the care that we give every day, evening and night. In this 8-hour workshop, participants have the opportunity to enhance their understanding of each other’s roles and scopes of practice as well as how to develop resident-centred care plans that are simple, practical, detailed and effective.
Caregiver Feedback:
- “I hated care plans. Now I think they can be very useful if we do them a little differently moving forward… and actually use them.”
- “Planning for care this way makes a lot more sense than what we usually do.”
- “Thank you for a very practical, holistic, team approach to planning how to care for our residents. And how to communicate about it better.”
- “I used to think of care plans as paperwork. I see them differently now.”
- “Thank you. A very full and useful day. Time well spent for me!”
- “I like that we did this as a team and not just the nurses.”
- “Very S-M-A-R-T!”
- “I got turned off careplans in nursing school. You made them useful today. Glad I came.”
- “We can save time and provide better care.”
- “Love the ‘team’ approach.”
- “Thank you for respecting everybody on the team.”