When Someone Says It's Quiet! - Anaesthesia of Emergency Patients

This six week course covers advanced anaesthesia and critical care concepts, and is therefore most suitable for experienced nurses working in referral centres, or those taking further qualifications in this field.  The course covers anaesthesia techniques including spirometry, blood gas analysis, invasive blood pressure, mechanical ventilation and ECG interpretation.

For nurses in general practice, looking for more routine anaesthesia CPD, these courses may be more suitable:

Multiparameter Monitoring

Practical Anaesthesia

Week 1 - Preparation and Monitoring of Critical Cases

• Preparedness
• Considerations
• Invasive blood pressure monitoring
• Blood gas analysis
• Spirometry

Learning objectives

• List generalised considerations for preparing to anaesthetise emergency cases
• How to setup and use invasive blood pressure monitoring and how this relates to oscillometric and doppler techniques
• Interpret a basic blood gas analysis and outline how this abnormality may have occurred
• Explain what spirometry is and how it differs from capnography

Week 2 - Abdominal Surgical Emergencies

• Gastric dilatation and volvulus
• Haemoabdomen
• The acute abdomen
• Epidural anaesthesia

Learning objectives

• Understand the physiological disturbances caused by gastric dilatation and volvulus
• Understand the physiological disturbances caused by haemoabdomen
• Understand the physiological disturbances caused by the acute abdomen
• Suggest considerations for these surgeries and list possible complications that may arise during anaesthesia
• List the total and relative contraindications for epidural anaesthesia

Week 3 - Thoracic Surgical Emergencies

• Pyothorax
• Penetrating injuries
• Diaphragmatic rupture
• Mechanical ventilation

Learning objectives

• Understand the physiological disturbances caused by pyothorax
• Understand the physiological disturbances caused by a penetrating injury
• Understand the physiological disturbances caused by diaphragmatic rupture
• Suggest considerations for these surgeries and list possible complications that may arise during anaesthesia
• Feel able to safely choose ventilator settings for use during non-emergency surgery

Week 4 - Caesarean

• Physiology
• ASA categorisation
• Anaesthesia protocols
• Anaesthesia infusions (TIVA)

Learning objectives

• Understand the physiological considerations for caesarean section
• Assign and justify the choice of an ASA category to the caesarean section patient
• Suggest a safe protocol for caesarean section, with variation based on differing drug availability depending on clinical setting
• Understand the basis of total intravenous anaesthesia infusions

Week 5 - What's Happening?  What Should I do?

• Hypoxia
• Hypocapnia
• Hypotension
• ECG Abnormalities

Learning objectives

• List possible causes of, and suggest treatments for hypoxia and hypocapnia
• List possible causes of hypotension and discuss the physiology of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options
• Interpret the most common ECG abnormalities seen and understand how these rhythms will affect the patient, and have an understanding of possible treatment options

Week 6 - CRASH!

• Recover CPR guidelines
• Crash box
• Basic life support
• Advanced life support

Learning objectives

• List the vital components of a crash box
• Perform safe and effective chest compressions in a variety of patient sizes and conformations.
• Understand how to monitor the effectiveness of CPR in the clinical setting
• Interpret the most common ECG rhythms seen during CPR
• Know what drug treatment options are available during CPR

The course will be fully tutored by William McFadzean 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