Training activity information
Details
Receive samples and referral information for a range of haematological malignancies
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.
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?
- Identify what is expected of you in relation to receiving samples and referral information for haematological malignancies.
- Consider how the learning outcomes apply, specifically in relation to applying appropriate sample acceptance criteria for haematological malignancies.
- Discuss with your training officer to gain clarity of what is expected of you in relation to the specific requirements for samples and referral information for malignancies like CML, AML, MPN, and MDS.
What is your prior experience of this activity?
- Think about what you already know about receiving samples and referral information in a diagnostic laboratory setting.
- Consider possible challenges you might face during the activity, such as incomplete referral information, inappropriate sample types, or transport issues.
- Recognise the scope of your own practice for this activity i.e. know when you will need to seek advice or help, and from whom. You will need to seek advice from your Training Officer when required, for example regarding complex sample acceptance criteria, cellularity requirements, or ambiguous anticoagulant details.
- Acknowledge how you feel about embarking on this planning and preparation task.
What do you anticipate you will learn from the experience?
- Consider the specific skills you want to develop, such as applying knowledge of sample acceptance criteria to various sample types.
- Identify the specific insights you hope to gain into the specific requirements for haematological malignancy samples and referral information.
What additional considerations do you need to make?
- Consult actions identified following previous experiences of sample handling or information review from other training activities, such as S-CG-S1 related to solid tumour samples.
Identify important information you need to consider before embarking on the activity, such as reviewing local guidelines or protocols regarding sample acceptance criteria for haematological malignancies.
In action
Is anything unexpected occurring?
- Are you noticing anything surprising or different from what you anticipate whilst systematically checking against sample acceptance criteria for haematological malignancies?
- Are you encountering situations such as:
- Suboptimal samples (e.g., low cellularity,or tumour burden, sample age, or incorrect anticoagulant) unexpectedly challenging the standard acceptance criteria?
- Unclear referral information regarding the suspected malignancy or urgency?
- Immediate issues upon sample arrival where standard operating procedures are difficult to apply?
How are you reacting to the unexpected development?
- How is this impacting your actions? For example, are you responding to the situation appropriately? Are you adapting or changing your approach to verifying referral details due to missing critical information?
- Consider the steps you are taking in the moment, such as:
- Immediately considering alternative actions to log the sample temporarily while seeking clarification on acceptance criteria
- Halting the acceptance process to proactively check against an electronic Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) regarding unusual sample types
- How are you feeling in that moment? For instance, are you finding it difficult to manage the immediate workload pressure while ensuring accuracy? Is it affecting your confidence in ensuring accurate sample reception?
What is the conclusion or outcome?
- Identify how you are working within your scope of practice. For example, are you successfully managing immediate issues upon sample arrival by making quick, informed decisions based on previous experience? Or are you needing support because a complex referral or unusual sample requires input from a Training Officer to manage the issue within ethical and technical guidelines?
- What are you learning as a result of the unexpected development? For example, are you gaining insight into the criticality of specific anticoagulant types for downstream molecular analysis for haematological malignancies?
On action
What happened?
- Begin by summarising the key steps you took when receiving the samples and referral information for the specific haematological malignancies (e.g., CML, AML, MPN, ALL).
- Consider specific events, actions, or interactions which felt important, such as what types of samples you received, the sufficiency of the information provided on the referral forms, or how you handled any issues with sample integrity, labelling, or acceptance criteria.
- Include any ‘reflect-in-action’ moments where you had to adapt to the situation as it unfolded, for instance, immediately checking sample details or seeking clarification on referral information when encountering ambiguous acceptance criteria.
- How did you feel during this experience, e.g., did you feel stressed by unexpected challenges in assessing samples against criteria or confident in your knowledge of pre-analytical requirements?
How has this experience contributed to your developing practice?
- Identify what learning you can take from this experience regarding sample reception and acceptance criteria. What strengths did you demonstrate, e.g., meticulousness in checking for complete referral information?
- What skills and/or knowledge gaps were evident, e.g., unfamiliarity with sample requirements for rare haematological malignancy subtypes?
- Compare this experience against previous engagement with similar activities – were any previously identified actions for development achieved? Has your practice improved in consistently applying the correct acceptance criteria for different sample types?
- Identify any challenges you experienced, such as needing to seek advice or clarification on scope of practice regarding issues with sample integrity or acceptance criteria based on the sample type or malignancy suspected, and how you reacted to this. How does understanding sample acceptance criteria relate to your future role as a Healthcare Scientist ensuring quality in diagnostic testing?
What will you take from the experience moving forward?
- Identify the actions or ‘next steps’ you will now take to support the assimilation of what you have learnt, including from any feedback you have received, with regards to specific aspects of sample reception or acceptance criteria you need to clarify or understand better.
- What will you do differently next time you approach sample handling, for instance, by proactively reviewing the relevant SOPs or expert advice to consolidate your understanding of sample acceptance criteria?
- Do you need to practise any aspect of the activity further, such as reviewing documentation for specific sample acceptance criteria for investigation of haematological malignancies or key learning outcomes related to applying the correct criteria?
Beyond action
Have you revisited the experiences?
- How have your subsequent experiences of receiving samples for haematological malignancies since completing this specific training activity led you to revisit your initial approach or decisions during that activity? For example, how a subsequent case involving extremely poor-quality bone marrow aspirate forced you to re-evaluate the stringency of your initial acceptance criteria assessment you applied during your first attempt at this training activity?
- Considering what you understand about sample acceptance now, were the actions or considerations you identified after your initial reflection on this training activity sufficient? How have you since implemented or adapted improvements in your process for sample receipt or handling referral information based on further learning and experiences? For example, how you proactively reviewed and integrated local protocols concerning specific anticoagulant requirements for liquid biopsies based on further learning?
- Has discussing challenging or straightforward sample receipt scenarios or the impact of inappropriate sample types on downstream molecular analysis with colleagues, peers, or supervisors changed how you now view your initial experience in this training activity? For example, how professional storytelling with a senior colleague about a time when critical documentation was missing from an urgent referral refined your understanding of the critical nature of pre-analytical checklist adherence?
How have these experiences impacted upon current practice?
- How has the learning from this initial training activity, in combination with subsequent experiences, contributed to your overall confidence and competence in receiving and assessing haematological malignancy samples, particularly in preparing for potential assessments where you might need to advise on sample acceptance criteria?
- How has reflecting back on this specific training activity, combined with everything you’ve learned since, shaped your current approach to receiving samples and referral information? How does this evolved understanding help you identify when something is beyond your scope of practice or requires escalation? For example, how your evolved approach means you now routinely seek advice from your Training Officer immediately when faced with a highly ambiguous or unlabelled sample?
- Looking holistically at your training journey, how has this initial sample reception experience, revisited with your current perspective, contributed to your development in consistently applying appropriate sample acceptance criteria in the context of the overall diagnostic pathway for haematological malignancies?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 1 |
Outcome
Apply the appropriate sample acceptance criteria for investigation of haematological malignancies for a variety of sample types. |