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Contents

Preface xi Acknowledgements xiii Introduction xv Section I: Fundamental skills 1 Accountability 3 Aim of this chapter 3 Regulation and registration 3 Healthcare assistants and assistant practitioners 4 Responsibilities and accountability 5 Delegation 8 Related aspects and terminology 10 Summary 16 References 17 2 Communication in healthcare 19 Aim of this chapter 19 Why good communication is important 19 Definition of communication 20 Communication methods 22 Strategies to improve communication 27 Related aspects and terminology 27 Common problems or communication barriers 29 Skills for the Health Care Certificate 31 Summary 31 References 32 Addendum 33 3 Psychological well-being 34 Aim of this chapter 34 What is meant by psychological care? 34 Psychological assessment in the healthcare setting 35 The importance of psychological care in the healthcare setting 37 Strategies to optimise psychological well-being 41 Pharmacological (drug-related) options 43 Non-pharmacological options 44 Therapeutic sense of self 44 Common problems 45 Summary 46 References 47 4 Documentation and record keeping 49 Aim of this chapter 49 The importance and purpose of documentation in relation to clinical skills 49 Confidentiality in records and documentation 52 Types of documentation 52 Legal aspects relating to documentation 53 Common problems 56 Related aspects and terminology 56 Strategies to improve standards of record keeping 56 Summary 57 References 59 Section II: Core clinical skills 5 Pulse 63 Aim of this chapter 63 What is a pulse? 63 Relevant anatomy and physiology 64 Related aspects and terminology 66 Factors affecting the pulse rate 67 Terminology 68 Automated devices 70 Fetal heartbeat 73 Documentation 75 Common problems 76 Summary 79 References 80 6 Blood pressure monitoring 81 Aim of this chapter 81 What is blood pressure? 81 Reasons for monitoring blood pressure 81 Who requests the test? 81 Who can take a BP reading? 82 What is done with the readings/information? 82 Relevant anatomy and physiology 82 Related aspects and terminology 86 Terminology 87 Korotkoff's sounds 88 Equipment 89 Sites for recording blood pressure 93 Taking blood pressure 94 Documentation 96 Common problems 96 Summary 102 References 103 7 Temperature 105 Aim of this chapter 105 What is temperature? 105 Reasons for measuring temperature 105 Normal limits 106 Relevant anatomy and physiology 107 Related aspects and terminology 107 Terminology 113 Taking a temperature reading 116 Route 119 Taking a temperature reading 119 Documentation 121 Common problems 124 Summary 125 References 128 8 Pulse oximetry 130 Aim of this chapter 130 What is an oxygen saturation reading? 130 Who can perform the test? 130 Reasons for recording an oxygen saturation level 131 Relevant anatomy and physiology 132 Related aspects and terminology 132 The mechanics of pulse oximetry 132 Equipment 134 Normal readings 134 Using a pulse oximeter 136 Documentation 137 Common problems 137 Summary 141 References 142 9 Respiratory care 143 Aim of this chapter 143 What is respiratory care? 143 Relevant anatomy and physiology 144 Upper respiratory system 144 Lower respiratory system 145 Recording a respiratory rate 147 How to measure and record a respiratory rate accurately 151 Measuring and recording a peak expiratory flow rate 151 Performing suctioning 154 Related aspects and terminology 156 Common problems 157 Summary 158 References 162 Addendum 163 Reference 166 10 Urinalysis and faecal occult blood testing 167 Aim of this chapter 167 Reasons for performing urinalysis and FOB tests 167 Relevant anatomy and physiology 168 Urinalysis testing 170 Faecal occult blood testing 175 Related aspects and terminology 178 Common problems 178 Summary 179 References 183 Addendum 183 11 Urinary catheterisation and catheter care 185 Aim of this chapter 185 Urinary catheterisation 185 Relevant anatomy and physiology 186 Types of catheterisation 188 Patient preparation for catheterisation 193 Insertion technique 194 Catheter care 198 Sampling 199 Removal of catheter 200 Related aspects and terminology 208 Terminology 210 Common problems 210 Summary 210 References 212 12 Venepuncture 214 Aim of this chapter 214 Reasons for performing venepuncture 214 Relevant anatomy and physiology 214 Common sites for venepuncture 215 Infection 215 Hand hygiene 218 Aseptic (sterile) technique 219 Health and safety 219 Environment 220 Performing the skill: requirements and technique 220 Related aspects and terminology 227 Common problems 229 Summary 232 References 233 13 Blood glucose monitoring 235 Aim of this chapter 235 What causes diabetes? 235 Reasons for performing blood glucose measurement 235 Relevant anatomy and physiology 236 Related aspects and terminology 237 Blood glucose levels 241 Hypoglycaemia 247 Hyperglycaemia 248 Common problems 249 Summary 251 References 254 14 Fluid balance and intravenous maintenance 256 Aim of this chapter 256 Reasons for monitoring fluid balance 256 Related anatomy and physiology 256 Electrolytes 258 Related aspects and terminology 259 Fluid balance charts 261 The intravenous route 263 Care of the cannula 267 Discontinuing an IV infusion 267 Common problems 268 Summary 269 References 273 Section III: Complex clinical skills 15 Medicines 277 Aim of this chapter 277 The role of healthcare assistants and assistant practitioners in relation to medicine administration 277 Types of medicines 278 Medication prescribing and legal aspects 279 Related aspects and terminology 281 Common medications 286 Errors in administration and adverse reactions 291 Summary 292 References 292 16 Peripheral intravenous cannulation 294 Aim of this chapter 294 Reasons for cannulation 294 Why perform peripheral IV cannulation 295 Relevant anatomy and physiology 295 How to insert and remove a peripheral IV cannula 296 Environment 301 Performing peripheral IV cannula: requirements and technique 301 Patient education for peripheral IV cannulation 303 Related aspects and terminology 308 Common problems/potential complications of peripheral IV cannulation 309 Summary 314 References 317 17 Recording a 12-lead Electrocardiograph (ECG) 319 Aim of this chapter 319 Relevant anatomy and physiology 320 The cardiac conduction system 320 Reasons for recording a 12-lead ECG 322 How to perform a 12-lead ECG 323 Related aspects and terminology 330 Common problems and actions 331 Summary 332 References 335 Index 337

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