Before commencing their placement all students undergo a clinical competency assessment at the Trust in the following:
- BLS
- Venepuncture
- IV Cannulation
- Male Catheterisation
- Hand hygiene
By the time they start their first placement, students will have been trained (tested in simulation or using simulated patients) on the following skills:
Specific procedural skills:
- Handwashing
- Vital signs (T0, pulse, heart & respiratory rate, BP, capillary refill, AVPU) & document on NEWS chart
- Record and interpret a 12-lead ECG
- Take samples of venous blood
- Perform immediate first aid and give basic life support (students have completed resuscitation council accredited ILS training)
- Measure blood pressure by auscultation using a manual sphygmomanometer
- Evaluate GCS, apply NEWS
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of nutritional assessment
- Perform urinalysis using the dipstick method
- Drawing up and injecting a drug using ANTT
- Measure peak flow
Consultation and Examination skills:
In addition to being able to take a full history, students will be able to perform the following general examinations:
- Cardiovascular
- Respiratory
- Abdominal (plus hernia and rectal)
- Musculoskeletal/locomotor (shoulder and knee)
- Neck triangles
- Cervical spine, thoracic and lumbar spine
- Peripheral Nervous System – upper and lower limb
- Cranial Nerves
- Ear, nose and throat.
- Lymph node
Test and Investigation Results:
Students will be able to interpret the following test and investigation results for the material that they have studied at University:
- Full blood count
- HbA1c
- Haematinics
- Lipid profile
- Urea and electrolytes
- Liver function tests
- Thyroid function tests
- Blood gas analysis
- Chest and abdominal X-Ray evaluation
- CT Pulmonary Angiogram (with some theoretical knowledge of ventilation-perfusion scans)
- Cardiac troponin, D-dimer assay, clotting screen etc.
Communication Skills:
- How to take a history using the Calgary-Cambridge framework
- Exploration of ideas, concerns and expectations
- Explaining the PA role to patients and colleagues
- Exploring negotiation and safety netting
- Pain assessment
- Handing over information using SBAR
- Documentation of a structured history from a patient
Other skills which the student PAs could receive training for, during clinical placement include (but not exhaustive):
- Perform ‘near patient’ (BM) glucose testing
- Undertake venous cannulation
- Take a sample of arterial blood from the radial artery
- Demonstrate the use of an inhaler (in Asthma/COPD)
- Perform basic spirometry
- Administer oxygen therapy
- Assess fluid status and administer fluids