Training activity information
Details
Prepare the clinical setting for routine adult vestibular assessments
Type
Entrustable training activity (ETA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee repeatedly, consistently, and effectively over time, in a range of situations. This may include occasions where the trainee has not successfully achieved the outcome of the activity themselves. For example, because it was not appropriate to undertake the task in the circumstances or the trainees recognised their own limitations and sought help or advice to ensure the activity reached an appropriate conclusion.
Reflection at multiple timepoints on the trainee learning journey for this activity.
Considerations
- Review referral
- Needs of the patient, including disabilities
- Patient centred care and support
- Local and national SOPs
- Reference ranges
- Infection control
- Patient safety
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What does success look like for preparing the clinical setting for adult vestibular assessments? e.g., What specific equipment and environmental factors e.g., lighting, room arrangement, are necessary for these assessments? What infection control procedures are expected?
- What is your prior experience with setting up rooms for vestibular assessments? e.g., What do you already know about the specialised equipment used? What potential challenges might arise during setup e.g., equipment placement, patient comfort, and how would you address them? What is your scope of practice regarding this setup? How do you feel about preparing for vestibular assessments?
- What do you anticipate you will learn from this experience? e.g., What specific skills related to setting up vestibular equipment or optimising the room environment do you want to develop? What insights do you hope to gain about the unique requirements of vestibular testing rooms?
- What additional considerations do you need to make? e.g., Have you reviewed any specific protocols for setting up for vestibular tests? Are there any notes from previous sessions regarding the room setup?
In action
- Are you noticing anything surprising or different from what you anticipate during the process of preparing the clinical setting for a routine adult vestibular assessment? Are you encountering situations such as:
- Specific vestibular assessment equipment (e.g., Videonystagmography (VNG) goggles, caloric irrigator) not functioning or connecting correctly?
- The room setup (e.g., lighting, space for balance tests) presenting an unexpected challenge for the assessment, such as insufficient clear space or inadequate darkness?
- An issue with patient comfort or safety during the setup phase that wasn’t anticipated, perhaps due to mobility issues?
- Unexpected requirements for specific tests (e.g., maintaining a precise water temperature for caloric testing) that complicate preparation?
- How does this experience compare with previous experiences of similar activities?
- How is this impacting your actions? For example, are you responding to the situation appropriately? Are you adapting or changing your approach to the procedure? Is it affecting your ability to undertake the activity independently? Consider the steps you are taking in the moment, such as:
- Are you immediately checking equipment connections or power supplies for vestibular apparatus, or seeking alternative equipment?
- Are you consulting relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or guidelines for vestibular assessment setup more thoroughly?
- Are you seeking advice from a more experienced colleague or your training officer to understand the anomaly or resolve an issue?
- Are you changing your initial setup plan based on new insights (e.g., observing patient mobility limitations upon arrival)?
- How is any unexpected development being resolved as you progress during the activity? How are you working within your scope of practice? Are you successfully managing the situation yourself, or do you need support because it is beyond your current scope (for example, if a specific test setup is highly complex and unfamiliar to you)?
- What are you learning in this moment as a result of any unexpected development? For example, are you learning a more efficient way to arrange equipment for vestibular tests, or a better method for ensuring patient safety and comfort during setup?
On action
- Begin by summarising the key steps you took to prepare the clinical setting specifically for a routine adult vestibular assessment.
- Consider specific events, actions, or interactions that felt important during the preparation, such as setting up specific vestibular equipment, ensuring optimal lighting conditions, or arranging the room for patient comfort and safety. How did you feel during this experience?
- Include any ‘reflect-in-action’ moments, where you had to adapt your preparation plan in the moment, perhaps due to an unexpected requirement or a specific patient need.
- Identify what learning you can take from this experience regarding preparing for vestibular assessments. What strengths did you demonstrate (e.g., precision in equipment setup, understanding of test requirements)? What skills and/or knowledge gaps were evident (e.g., specific equipment connections, nuances of room conditions for vestibular tests)?
- Compare this experience against previous engagements with similar activities, if any. Were any previously identified actions for development achieved? Has your practice in preparing for vestibular assessments improved?
- Identify any challenges you experienced during preparation (e.g., ensuring complete darkness, positioning specific patient equipment) and how you reacted to these. Did this affect your ability to deal with the situation? Were you able to overcome the challenges?
- Identify anything significant about this activity, such as needing to seek advice or clarification regarding the setup for specific vestibular tests.
- Acknowledge any changes in your own feelings now that you are looking back on the experience.
- Identify the actions or ‘next steps’ you will now take to support the assimilation of what you have learned, including from any feedback you received.
- What will you do differently next time you prepare a clinical setting for an adult vestibular assessment?
- Has anything changed in terms of what you would do if you were faced with a similar situation again?
- Do you need to practise any specific aspect of setting up for vestibular assessments further?
Beyond action
- Have you revisited your previous reflections (reflect-before-action, reflect-in-action, and reflect-on-action) for this specific activity (preparing the clinical setting for routine adult vestibular assessments)?
- When reviewing these past reflections, what actions for improvement did you previously identify you would need to take to improve your practice related to setting up specific vestibular equipment, ensuring patient safety in the vestibular environment, managing lighting/visual cues, or maintaining hygiene for vestibular assessments?
- Have you completed these previously identified actions? If not, what are the barriers? If so, how did completing them impact your subsequent performance of this activity? Are you ready to demonstrate this new learning confidently and consistently when performing this task?
- Have you engaged in professional storytelling or discussed your experiences of vestibular setting preparation with peers, near peers, or colleagues? Has discussing these experiences with others changed your view or understanding of the unique requirements of a vestibular clinic environment, patient comfort during testing, or specific equipment nuances?
- Considering your cumulative experiences and reflections on this activity, how will the learning you have gained support you in preparing for relevant observed ‘in-person’ assessments for the module?
- Can you identify specific examples of improvement or increased confidence in optimising the environment for accurate vestibular testing, managing patient anxiety related to the setting, or ensuring all necessary equipment is ready and functional?
- Based on your experiences, how has your ability to recognise when something related to vestibular setting preparation is beyond your scope of practice improved?
- Do you have a clearer understanding of when and from whom (e.g., supervisor, vestibular specialist, equipment technical support) you need to seek advice or clarification regarding complex vestibular equipment setup, patient safety concerns in the environment, or adapting the setting for patients with severe mobility issues?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 2 |
Outcome
Apply the principles of calibration for all types of equipment and rooms used in audiology. |
| # 3 |
Outcome
Apply the principles of infection control within audiology services. |