Cardiac Core —
Training activity: 1

Details

Prepare a patient for the following:

• ECG
• Ambulatory monitor
• TTE
• Device implant
• Device follow-up

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 are the intended outcomes of being able to prepare a patient for a device implant and follow-up? What should the patient understand and what practical steps need to be completed?
• What information about the device implant procedure and the follow-up process do you need to know before preparing the patient? What are the standard patient information leaflets and consent procedures? What are the different types of devices and their specific preparation requirements?
• What do you anticipate learning about patient communication, procedural preparation, and the importance of patient education in the context of device implants and follow-up?
• What resources will you consult (e.g., hospital guidelines, supervisor) to ensure you have the necessary information? How will you structure your conversation with the patient to ensure they understand the procedure and follow-up?

In action

• What are you doing to ensure the patient understands the procedure and the follow-up requirements? How are you approaching the explanation? Why are you explaining it in this way?
• What decisions are you making regarding the information you prioritise and how you present it to the patient?
• How effective are your current methods in ensuring patient comfort and reducing anxiety?
• What challenges are you facing in communicating with this particular patient?
• How are you adapting your communication style based on the patient’s responses and questions?
• Are there alternative ways you could be preparing the patient? What support or guidance might be helpful in this moment?

On action

• What actions did you take? What did you notice about the patient’s reaction to the information provided? Were they engaged, anxious, or did they express any particular concerns? What did you do in response to the patient’s reactions?
• What did you learn about your communication skills during this interaction? Were you able to explain the information clearly and address the patient’s questions effectively? Were there any unexpected questions or misunderstandings? How did your actions during the preparation influence the patient’s understanding and comfort?
• What will you take from this experience moving forward in terms of patient communication and preparation for device procedures? What areas of your explanation could be improved? What resources or support might help you to enhance your patient preparation skills? What are your next steps to refine your approach?

Beyond action

• Have you revisited your initial experiences of preparing patients for these different procedures? Consider how your approach might have evolved since then.
• How have these foundational experiences in patient preparation impacted your ability to provide more complex patient care or support more advanced procedures you have encountered subsequently? For example, how did preparing a patient for a simple ECG inform your later interactions with patients undergoing device implantation?
• What transferable skills, such as communication and empathy, did you develop during these early experiences, and how have you applied these skills in other areas of your practice?
• Looking back, are there any aspects of patient preparation that you initially found challenging? How has your understanding and management of these challenges changed over time with more experience?
• How will the cumulative experience of preparing patients for various cardiac procedures continue to inform your practice as you progress in your career as a Cardiac Scientist?

Relevant learning outcomes

#	Outcome
# 1	Outcome Perform and interpret 12-lead and ambulatory ECG monitoring to construct a detailed report and make recommendations regarding further investigations and/or clinical management.
# 2	Outcome Perform a trans-thoracic echocardiogram by acquiring and interpreting the standard images to prepare a report for a patient with a structurally normal heart.
# 3	Outcome Provide effective physiological and scientific support for pacemaker implant, providing technical expertise, ensuring patient safety and appropriate procedural documentation.
# 4	Outcome Perform and interpret routine follow-up of pacemakers and make appropriate programming changes to ensure safe functioning of the device.
# 5	Outcome Prepare and setup for implantable loop recorder (ILR) insertion and manage follow-up post implant, including use of remote monitoring.
# 8	Outcome Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers and the wider multidisciplinary team.