This six-month RCN-accredited programme is designed for healthcare professionals. It aims to equip participants with advanced clinical skills to effectively manage acute and chronic respiratory conditions, focusing on asthma and COPD.
The course consists of six monthly 4-hour workshops, combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills and case-based learning, all aligned with the region’s objective to reduce hospital admissions for respiratory patients.
Learning Objectives:
- Develop a strong foundational understanding of respiratory diseases, including asthma, COPD, and related conditions, while recognising local healthcare priorities.
- Master the ability to differentiate between asthma and COPD, using clinical assessments and diagnostic tools.
- Gain advanced skills in asthma management, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, emergency response, and patient self-management strategies.
- Enhance competence in managing COPD, focusing on both chronic care and acute exacerbation management, including pulmonary rehabilitation and smoking cessation.
- Identify and manage red flag symptoms in respiratory patients to prevent hospital admissions, applying emergency management protocols when necessary.
- Foster a multidisciplinary, integrated care approach to long-term respiratory patient management, with an emphasis on patient education, collaboration across healthcare services, and quality improvement.
Participants will engage in practical activities, including case simulations, diagnostic exercises, and multidisciplinary team-based role-playing, ensuring a hands-on learning experience. Upon successful completion, participants will earn an RCN accredited certification in Advanced Respiratory Care.
Assessment & Certification
At the end of the course, participants will be assessed through:
- A written exam covering key theoretical concepts
- Practical skills assessments (spirometry, action plan development, emergency management)
- Case study analysis and reflective practice journals
- Certification: Successful participants will receive an RCN accredited certificate in Advanced Respiratory Care
Workshop Agenda
Below is an outline of the proposed agenda, if you have any questions please get in touch.
Session One: Introduction to Respiratory Conditions & Regional Healthcare Priorities
Duration: 4 hours
Objective: Establish foundational knowledge of respiratory conditions and their prevalence, focusing on the regional healthcare priorities in the locality. |
Topics Covered:
- Overview of respiratory diseases: asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, bronchiectasis
- Prevalence of respiratory conditions in the locality
- Understanding the Integrated Care Board’s objectives for reducing hospital admissions
- Introduction to regional respiratory care pathways and services
- Role of healthcare professionals in early intervention and proactive management
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Activities:
- Case studies from the locality on respiratory admissions
- Group discussions on barriers to reducing hospital admissions
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Session Two: Differentiating Between Asthma and COPD
Duration: 4 hours
Objective: Develop skills to differentiate between asthma and COPD based on symptoms, history, and diagnostic tools. |
Topics Covered:
- Pathophysiology of asthma vs COPD
- Symptom comparison: chronic and acute exacerbations
- Spirometry and other diagnostic tools (e.g., peak flow monitoring, chest X-rays)
- Red flags: Identifying warning signs of severe respiratory distress
- Pharmacological management (long-term vs rescue medications)
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Activities:
- Spirometry practical session
- Interactive case study reviews of patients presenting with asthma and COPD symptoms
- Small group diagnostic exercises
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Session Three: Advanced Clinical Skills for Asthma Management
Duration: 4 hours
Objective: Equip healthcare professionals with advanced knowledge and skills in the management of asthma across various clinical settings. |
Topics Covered:
- Pharmacological interventions: Stepwise approach to managing asthma
- Personalised asthma action plans: tailoring care for individual patients
- Management of acute asthma exacerbations: identifying triggers, emergency treatments
- Non-pharmacological interventions (e.g., lifestyle changes, patient education)
- Patient self-management and follow-up care
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Activities:
- Case simulations for acute asthma attacks in different settings (e.g., GP practice, A&E)
- Developing and reviewing asthma action plans for complex cases
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Session Four: Advanced Clinical Skills for COPD Management
Duration: 4 hours
Objective: Enhance healthcare professionals’ competence in managing chronic and acute exacerbations of COPD. |
Topics Covered:
- Comprehensive COPD assessment: spirometry, symptom evaluation, exacerbation history
- Long-term management of COPD: bronchodilators, corticosteroids, pulmonary rehabilitation
- Acute exacerbations: management in primary care and escalation to secondary care
- Smoking cessation strategies and other risk factor modifications
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Activities:
- Pulmonary rehabilitation planning for a COPD patient
- Role-playing smoking cessation consultations
- Acute exacerbation management scenarios
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Session Five: Identifying and Managing ‘Red Flag’ Symptoms in Respiratory Patients
Duration: 4 hours
Objective: Train healthcare professionals to recognise red flag symptoms in respiratory conditions and take appropriate action to prevent hospital admissions. |
Topics Covered:
- Identifying red flag symptoms: severe breathlessness, haemoptysis, cyanosis, altered consciousness
- Red flag conditions: pneumonia, pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, lung cancer
- Referral pathways for urgent cases
- Use of emergency management protocols (e.g., oxygen therapy, nebulization)
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Activities:
- Red flag recognition role-playing with simulated patients
- Team-based emergency response exercises
- Reflective practice on escalation decisions
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Session Six: Integrated Care and Long-term Management of Respiratory Patients
Duration: 4 hours
Objective: Encourage a multidisciplinary approach to managing respiratory conditions, focusing on integrated care pathways and patient self-management. |
Topics Covered:
- Locality integrated care model for respiratory patients
- Collaboration between primary care, secondary care, and community services
- Patient self-management programs: education, digital tools, telemonitoring
- Reducing hospital admissions through early intervention and proactive care
- Evaluating patient outcomes and quality improvement initiatives
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Activities:
- Group project: Develop a respiratory care pathway in a simulated local healthcare setting
- Multidisciplinary team role-playing (GP, nurse, community services)
- Analysis of patient case studies with a focus on reducing admissions
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