By the end of the course, candidates will be able to:
- Discuss legal and professional responsibilities associated with performing COPD care with local and national guidance
- Follow procedures for gaining consent and correct documentation
- Describe anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system
- Describe the key aspects of diagnosis and assessment of COPD
- Outline the non-pharmacological treatments for patients with COPD and when their use might be appropriate.
- List different ways in which inhalation therapy might be used
- Explain the cautions that need to be considered when administering oxygen
- Understand the need to manage health and safety risk
- Identify and discuss the range of available equipment
- Discuss the importance of holistic care
Practitioners will be assessed by –
- Ability to answer questions during course
- Discussion following feedback from activities
- Completing a post course knowledge assessment
Course content
- Legal and professional considerations and responsibilities
- Consent for care and treatment
- Anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system
- What is COPD?
- Emphysema
- Chronic bronchitis
- Type 2 respiratory failure
- COPD statistics
- Background to COPD
- Causes – Smoking, fumes and dust, air pollution, genetics
- Making a diagnosis
- Symptoms
- Clinical history and tests
- Correct diagnosis?
- Assessing disease severity
- Inhaled medications
- Nebulisers
- Oxygen therapy
- Oxygen cautions
- Smoking cessation
- Physical activity
- Vaccination
- Nutrition and malnutrition
- Psycho-social wellbeing
- Patient education
- End of life care
- Principles of Nursing Practice
- Knowledge assessment