Training activity information
Details
Respond to clinical queries/ significant results related to the diagnosis and management of infection in patients on critical care units.
To include selection and interpretation of relevant tests and drafting of advice.
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
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 specific knowledge about infections in critical care patients, their common pathogens, and relevant tests do you need to review?
- What specific insights do you hope to gain regarding the challenges of diagnosing and managing infections in critically ill patients? What do you already know about this patient group and their susceptibility to infections?
- Have you discussed typical clinical scenarios and queries related to critical care infections with your training officer? What potential difficulties do you foresee (e.g., interpreting complex data, communicating with critical care staff)? How might you address these? How do you feel about the prospect of handling such complex cases?
In action
- Pay attention to how you are approaching the clinical query or significant result.
- Why are you choosing this particular method of investigation or interpretation?
- What decisions are you making regarding the selection and interpretation of tests and the drafting of advice as the situation progresses?
- What aspects of responding to this query/result feel automatic or intuitive based on your prior knowledge, and what parts require more deliberate thought and effort?
- How effective do you feel your actions are in addressing the clinical query or interpreting the significant result?
- What challenges are you encountering as you try to diagnose and manage the infection in this critical care patient?
- What are you learning about managing infections in critical care patients as you work through this activity?
- How does this specific case connect with what you already know about microbiology, critical care, and infection management?
- Are there alternative tests or management approaches you are considering as you respond to the query/result?
- Do you feel you might need to seek support or guidance from a senior colleague at any point during this process?
- If so, about what? Are you ensuring that your advice and actions are within your current scope of practice?
On action
- Begin by summarising the key points of the experience of responding to clinical queries/significant results for patients on critical care units.
- What skills or knowledge did you develop or improve related to the selection and interpretation of relevant tests for this patient group?
- Were there any unexpected challenges or successes in drafting advice for managing infections in critical care patients?
- What did you learn from these? In what ways did your reflection-in-action (during the activity) influence how you selected tests, interpreted results, or drafted advice?
- How does this experience relate to the requirements for post-programme practice in providing timely and appropriate advice for critically ill patients with infections?
- What areas for continued development have been identified in responding to clinical queries for critical care patients with infections?
- How can you apply the learning from this activity to your routine practice when dealing with similar cases or when communicating with critical care teams?
- Identify the actions / ‘next steps’ you will now take to support the assimilation of what you have learned, such as reviewing specific guidelines or protocols for critical care infections.
- What support or resources might you need to further develop your skills in this area, such as discussions with senior colleagues or further reading on critical care microbiology?
Beyond action
- Have you revisited your reflections on responding to queries for critical care patients?
- How has your understanding of managing infections in critical care patients evolved since undertaking this DTA and gaining further experience?
- How have you applied the skills and knowledge gained from this DTA regarding test selection, interpretation, and advice drafting for critical care patients to other scenarios or different patient groups?
- What connections can you draw between this DTA and other training activities or clinical experiences related to acutely unwell patients, and how do they build towards your overall development as a Healthcare Scientist?
- What further development needs related to critical care infections have been identified through revisiting this experience, and what actions will you now take?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 1 |
Outcome
Identify appropriate investigative strategies to diagnose and manage infections associated with specialist patient groups, considering guidance and public health requirements |
| # 2 |
Outcome
Select tests to diagnose and manage infections and interpret the results in the clinical context for specialist patient groups, with consideration of laboratory quality assurance and quality control |
| # 3 |
Outcome
Develop plans and provide advice on infection management for specialist patient groups considering infection control, guidelines and public health requirements |