Approach to the Emergency Patient

Week 1 - Patient Assessment and Triage

• The concept of triage
• Preparedness
• Primary survey
• Secondary Survey
• Emergency history

Learning outcomes:

• Understand the triage process and how it can be utilised to prioritise emergency care
• Describe how to make their team and environment prepared for when the emergency patient arrives
• List how to carry out a primary survey during the initial assessment of the patient
• Explain how to carry out a secondary survey assessment in order to list their concerns with the patient
• Discuss how to communicate with the client including telephone advice, informed consent and emergency history

Week 2 - Shock

• Classify shock
• Emergency database
• Blood pressure
• Oxygen therapy
• The use of multiparameter monitors

Learning outcomes:

• Identify a patient with shock and classify which type of shock they have
• Explain which parameters may be tested during an emergency database and how these can help to identify shock in the emergency room
• Understand the physiology of perfusion and ways in which blood pressure can be monitored in the emergency patient
• List the different ways that oxygen therapy can be delivered to the emergency patient
• Understand the uses and limitations of multiparameter monitors and their role in monitoring perfusion trends

Week 3 - Fluid Therapy

• Patient assessment
• Identifying a fluid deficit or change in volume
• What fluids are available
• Managing a change in content
• Identifying a change in fluid distribution

Learning outcomes:

• Explain how to assess the patient’s fluid status using clinical exam and blood work
• Discuss how to create a fluid plan to treat a fluid deficit such as hypovolaemia or dehydration
• List what fluid options are available and which fluid might be preferred in which situation
• Understand how fluid selection or the fluid plan can be altered to account for an electrolyte abnormality
• Describe how to manage the patient with fluid overload or peripheral oedema

Week 4 - Neurological Emergencies

• Neurological assessment
• Coma scoring
• Raised intracranial pressure
• Seizures

Learning outcomes:

• Describe how to perform a neurological assessment of an emergency patient
• Describe how to perform a coma score and understand how these may be used in neurological patients
• Understand methods of identifying raised intracranial pressure and the physiology behind this
• Recognise a seizuring patient and understand their management, from initial presentation and stabilisation of mild seizures through to the management of a patient in status epilepticus

Week 5 - Approach to the Trauma Patient

• Assessment of wounds
• Wound management
• Management of fractures
• Other injuries associated with trauma
• Analgesia

Learning outcomes:

• Identify different wounds based on the patient history and appearance of the wound
• Understand the principles of wound management and common techniques used to flush and debride wounds
• Describe how to identify and manage fractures in the trauma patient
• List other common injuries associated with trauma and how these should be managed
• Implement an analgesia plan for the trauma patient based on pain assessment

Week 6 - Common Toxicities

• Common toxins seen in emergency practice
• Renal toxins
• Hepatotoxins
• Anticoagulants
• Neurotoxins

Learning outcomes:

• Describe the different ways toxins can enter the body
• List the most common renal toxins and understand the treatment of these patients
• List the most common hepatotoxins and understand the different treatments for each of these
• Understand the physiological effects of anticoagulant ingestion and the treatment of these patients
• Identify the most common neurotoxins seen in practice and understand the treatment of these patients

The course will be fully tutored by Elle Haskey and Katie Gray and will consist of 15 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case scenarios, forum discussions and quizzes.

For some further information about our Online Tutored CPD courses - please open the guide below:

ONLINE TUTORED CPD COURSES - PDF GUIDE