Education

Cardiac Auscultation: What Did I just hear! ^Featured

This article was submitted to ACAP by Kelvin Moran from NHS Ayrshire & Arran

Kelvin Moran

H@N Advanced Nurse Practitioner NHS Ayrshire & Arran

Introduction

This article will aim to discuss normal/ abnormal cardiac sounds and their relevance for clinical practice.

There are a wide variety of components which are suggested as pertinent to the role of an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP), (Callaghan 2008, McGee & Castledine 2003). These include: Leadership Expertise Autonomy Clinical decision making Research

The advancement of nursing roles and responsibilities has led to nurses undertaking roles that have traditionally been the realm of medical practitioners. Patient safety is of absolute paramount concern at all times. Coombes (2008) concurs with this observation, emphasizing the importance of the competence within advanced practice. Scott (2004) suggested that with supplemented medical education and mentorship many experienced nurses are capable of working at an equivalent level in perceived medical roles such as physical assessment and diagnostics.

Auscultation of the heart is always undertaken alongside a systematic cardiovascular examination. However, the literature suggests that despite auscultation being a critical clinical skill, it is one that is often poorly mastered

(Wayne et al 2009, Dolara 2008, Barrett et al 2004). Furthermore it has been suggested that there is widespread belief that cardiac auscultation is of secondary importance because the same information is readily available using echocardiography (Dolara 2008).

ECG Guru - Instructor Resources ^Featured

Happened upon this great site for everything ECG-- may be worth a visit

Simplification vs. Over Simplification Since ECG instructors teach students at many different levels, it is sometimes necessary to simplify or even over-simplify some materials.

ECG Guru - Instructor Resources ekgguru.com

National centre of excellence for NHS leaders opens ^Featured

A world class national centre designed to produce and inspire current and future generations of NHS leaders to drive improvements in patient care, has been launched.

The NHS Leadership Academy will help develop outstanding leadership in order to improve patients’ experiences, their health outcomes and their wellbeing.

To do this it will work with doctors, nurses, health professionals and managers from across the NHS. It will also work with public health and social care, and with local government, where Health and Wellbeing Boards are key to improving health and care outcomes.

For more info visit the new website: www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk

Scottish Patient Safety Programme

The Scottish Patient Safety Programme is being implemented in every acute hospital in the country. The initial goals are to drive improvements in:

As the Programme develops it will encompass other service areas, including Paediatrics and Primary Care services. The national drive for excellence will eventually involve the whole of NHSScotland.

www.patientsafetyalliance.scot.nhs.uk