Aim: To understand the care and management of a spinal injured patient.

Learning Outcomes:

• Increased knowledge in the normal anatomy of the spinal cord and its function
• Understanding of the effects of spinal cord injury (physical and psychological)

Aim: To introduce knowledge and skills in relation to maintaining a healthy bladder and bowel.

Learning outcomes:

• Principles of maintaining a health bladder and bowel
• Increased knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the bowel in relation to spinal cord injury
• Understand the principles and concepts of bowel management programme for a client with a spinal cord injury
• Key components of a healthy diet
• What constitutes a high fibre diet?
• How to assist spinal injured clients to maintain a healthy bladder
• Documentation and consent

Aim: To introduce knowledge and skills in relation to maintaining a healthy bowel.

Learning outcomes:

• Principles of maintaining a health bowel
• Increased knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the bowel in relation to patients with neurological problems
• Understand the principles and concepts of bowel management programme for a client with a spinal cord injury
• Key components of a healthy diet
• What constitutes a high fibre diet?
• How to assist a neurological patient to maintain a healthy bowel
• Documentation and consent

Aim: To introduce and update skills in relation to digital stimulation and manual removal of faeces.

Learning outcomes:

• To safely and competently perform digital stimulation and manual removal of faeces as part of a bowel management plan
• Understand the principles of maintaining privacy and dignity
• Practise new knowledge and skill on manikin
• Principles of utilising Bristol stool chart
• Documentation and informed consent
• Attitudes to bowel care

Aim: To introduce and gain an understanding of what Autonomic Dysreflexia.

Learning outcome:

• Increased knowledge in anatomy and physiology relevant to spinal injured patients and autonomic dysreflexia
• Understand the mechanisms of autonomic dyresflexia
• Explain the signs and symptoms of autonomic dysrelexia
• Understand how to treat autonomic dysreflexia and maintain patients safety

Aim: To understand the principles of infection control and how best practice is maintained.

Learning outcome:

• Types and carriers of infection
• Chain of infection
• Features of the six links
• Breaking the links
• Seven stage hand washing technique
• Understanding the principles of infection control in relation to catheter care and bowel management
• Reducing cross infection

Aim: To understand the principle of valid consent and the 2005 Mental Capacity Act including Liberty Protection Safeguards.

Learning outcomes:

• The meaning of Consent
• Principles of Mental Capacity Act and associated assessments
• What constitutes valid Consent?
• Key components (time, cognition and information)
• Legislation and case law
• Professional ethics and moral dilemmas
• Case studies covering the following issues:
  • Emergency treatment when a person lacks capacity
  • Acting in the best interest of a patient
• Parental responsibility for children and children’s Consent
• Local policy and practice for obtaining Consent
• Principles of MCA and associated assessments
• Roles in relation to Liberty Protection Safeguards

Aim: To understand the importance of risk assessment in relation to moving and handling of patients with spinal cord injuries.

Learning outcome:

• Increased knowledge of anatomy and physiology of spinal injured patients
• Understand the risks associated with manual handling of a spinal injured patient
• Competent and safe practise of manual handling of a spinal injured patient
• Documentation and consent
• Good communication

Aim: To understand the principles of skin care and pressure sore management.

Learning outcome:

• To understand the anatomy and physiology of the skin
• To understand the principles of skin and wound care
• Risks of pressure sores to patients with spinal injuries
• To understand the principles and prevention of pressure sores
• Explain how to care for a client’s skin with spinal cord injuries

Aim: To introduce and gain an understanding of what Poikilothermia is.

Learning outcome:

• Increased knowledge in anatomy and physiology relevant to spinal injured patients and Poikilothermia
• Understand the mechanisms of Poikilothermia
• Explain the signs and symptoms of Poikilothermia
• Understand how to treat Poikilothermia and maintain patients safety

Aim: To develop the knowledge and skills to care for a spinal injured patient that has an indwelling catheter.

Learning outcome:

• Purpose of indwelling catheter in a spinal injured patient
• Risks and complications
• Safety and infection control
• Anatomy and physiology of male and female urinary system
• Care of indwelling catheter
• Explain the management of catheter care drainage systems
• Adhere to local policy and procedures
• Documentation and consent

Aim: To introduce and gain an understanding of Orthostatic Hypotension.

Learning outcomes:

• Increased knowledge in anatomy and physiology relevant to spinal injured patients and Orthostatic Hypotension
• Understand the mechanisms of Orthostatic Hypotension
• Explain the signs and symptoms of Orthostatic Hypotension
• Understand how to treat Orthostatic Hypotension and maintain patients safety