Training activity information
Details
Identify a case where there is a need for further patient support. This may include psychological, emotional and financial difficulties
Discuss the patient support requirements with the Specialist Nurse responsible for their care
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 indicators of psychological, emotional, or financial difficulties in patients?
- What is the role of the Specialist Nurse in providing patient support?
- What will you learn about recognizing the signs of patients needing additional support beyond prosthetic care?
- How will you learn to effectively communicate these concerns to other healthcare professionals?
- What insights will you gain into the range of support services available to patients?
- Have you familiarised yourself with common psychological and emotional challenges faced by patients undergoing reconstructive treatment?
- Have you discussed referral pathways and the role of specialist nurses with your training officer?
- What specific information will you need to gather to effectively communicate the patient’s needs?
- Have you researched different suitable charities with facial differences due to cancer, trauma or congenital disease?
In action
- As you review patient cases, are you actively looking for indicators of psychological, emotional, or financial distress? What specific observations or information are prompting your concern for a particular patient? When discussing these needs with the Specialist Nurse, are you clearly articulating your observations and the reasons for your assessment?
- Are you effectively identifying patients who may require additional support? Are you encountering any challenges in recognising the signs of distress or determining the appropriate type of support needed? What immediate learning is occurring as you become more attuned to the broader needs of patients beyond their physical condition? How does this activity connect to your understanding of holistic patient care and the roles of different healthcare professionals?
- If you are unsure about the level or type of support a patient needs, are you considering alternative ways to gather more information or seek guidance from other members of the multidisciplinary team? Are you ensuring that your assessment of patient support needs remains within your professional responsibilities and that you are referring appropriately?
On action
- What were the specific indicators that suggested the patient needed further support (psychological, emotional, financial)? How did you identify these needs? Describe your discussion with the Specialist Nurse regarding the patient’s support requirements. What information did you share? What was the nurse’s perspective? What potential support mechanisms were discussed?
- What specific skills or knowledge did you develop or improve in identifying patients needing additional support and communicating these needs to other healthcare professionals? What did you learn about the range of psychological, emotional, and financial difficulties patients undergoing this type of treatment might face? What did you learn about the role of the Specialist Nurse in providing patient support? How important is it to consider the broader needs of the patient beyond the prosthetic device itself?
- What aspects of identifying patient support needs and interprofessional communication will you focus on developing further? How can you apply the knowledge gained about patient difficulties and support mechanisms to future cases? What resources or support might you need to further develop your awareness of patient support services and communication skills?
Beyond action
- Have you revisited experiences where you identified significant patient support needs? How has your awareness of the wider impact of prosthetic treatment on patients’ lives developed?
- How have these experiences impacted upon your current practice in recognizing and signposting patients to appropriate support services? Are you more aware of the role of multidisciplinary teams?
- How might these experiences contribute towards your future practice in advocating for holistic patient care and understanding the roles of different healthcare professionals? What did you learn about the types of support available and effective communication with other team members?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 1 |
Outcome
Deliver quality patient centred care with the best interests of patients in all elements of practice. |
| # 2 |
Outcome
Practice in accordance with local and national health and safety policies, regulatory requirements and overall service governance. |
| # 3 |
Outcome
Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders. |
| # 4 |
Outcome
Identify patients who need further specialist support and refer to the appropriate healthcare specialist. |
| # 9 |
Outcome
Practice in partnership with other clinical specialisms as part of a multidisciplinary team and understand their roles and their impact on patient care and pathway. |
| # 12 |
Outcome
Assess and interpret patients’ needs to provide customised treatment dependent on medical, physical, social and psychological requirements. |