PLEASE ENSURE YOU CONSULT YOUR PRACTICE MANAGER BEFORE BOOKING ONTO ANY TRAINING COURSES.  THANK YOU.

This training is for Practice Nurses and will be delivered by Respiricare.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the session delegates will be able to:

1. Identify people requiring spirometry and understand its role in clinical care
2. Maintain equipment in line with infection control, verification / calibration and quality control requirements 

3. Ensure patient safety always, with a good awareness of pre-test instructions and contraindications to testing 

4. Perform spirometry accurately with a good awareness of the acceptability and reproducibility requirements, meeting BTS requirements for spirometry testing 

5. Perform reversibility testing accurately with a good awareness of its role, infection control requirements, prescription requirements and interpretation of results
6. Use a systematic approach to the interpretation of spirometry results including a review of patient demographics and quality criteria
7. Understand volume and flow measurements recorded during spirometry including FEV1, FVC, VC, PEFR, FEV1/FVC, FEV1/VC and small airway values
8. Interpret results using % predicted results and lower limits of normal
9. Interpret results using flow/volume curves and volume/time curves
10. Understand some of the causes for obstructive and restrictive spirometry
11. Have an awareness of when to refer on for further testing for diagnostic clarification

This will be achieved through: 


1. PowerPoint presentation 

2. Group discussion 

3. Demonstrations of verification / calibration and the setting up of a spirometer 

4. Demonstrations of spirometry technique meeting BTS quality criteria 

5. Opportunity to practice setting up spirometers, perform verification / calibration and to use these for spirometry testing on fellow delegates 

6. The dissemination of spirometry protocols templates for delegates to use and adapt in their own practice. 

7. A follow up session whereby delegates will be provided with individualised verbal and written feedback regarding their verification/calibration, 
infection control and spirometry protocols reviewed and supported to ensure they are suitable for practice, where 10 traces of spirometry meeting BTS criteria will be reviewed and discussed and a practical performance of spirometry with feedback will take place.  Written feedback is provided. 


Agenda Day One:

8.45-9.00              Registration

9.00 – 10.30         Theory of Spirometry Performance including National Guidelines, Verification / Calibration / Quality Assurance and Infection Control.

10.45 – 12.15      Spirometry Performance Practical including Spirometry Technique, Acceptability and Repeatability Criteria, Practical Demonstration, Recording of Spirometry   Results.

1.00 – 2.30           Theory of Spirometry Interpretation including recognising flow and volume measures, how to recognise normal, obstructed and restricted spirometry patterns, how spirometry patterns fit the clinical picture, using flow-volume and volume-time curves for spirometry interpretation, small airway value interpretation, lower limits of normal.

2.45 – 3.45           Case Studies for spirometry interpretation

3.45 – 4.15           Review of the day, Questions, Evaluations and Close.

Day One Homework Requirements:

1. Based on templates provided by RespiriCare Ltd, delegates will be required to develop an overarching Spirometry Protocol including details on verification, calibration and quality assurance, infection control, spirometry safety requirement i.e. pre-test instructions and contraindications and details on spirometry technique
2. Delegates will provide ten traces of spirometry which they have performed which meet BTS quality criteria, to ensure they are able perform quality assured spirometry in practice
3. Delegates will be provided with 6 traces of spirometry which they will need to interpret

Agenda Day Two:

Each delegate will be provided with a shared 60-minute time slot. During this time slot the delegate's portfolio will be reviewed and an observed spirometry will be performed. Individualised verbal and written feedback will be provided to each delegate to enable them to identify where further improvements need to be made and an action plan will be drawn up to address any further learning needs. Delegates who interpret spirometry in practice will also be given 6 spirometry results to interpret.