Welcome to the “Recognising the Patient with Sepsis” online course, brought to you by The London School of Public Health (TLSPH).
We are delighted to have you join us on this journey to deepen your understanding of sepsis, a critical topic in public health and clinical practice. This course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools to recognize, evaluate, and respond to sepsis effectively, potentially saving lives through timely intervention.
We’re also proud to inform you that successful completion of this course is awarded with CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points, reflecting its value in enhancing your professional knowledge and skills.
Each module in this course includes an estimated time of completion, but we encourage you to work at your own pace. We understand that our students come from diverse healthcare backgrounds with varying levels of experience and competency. This course is designed to be flexible and supportive, allowing you to tailor your learning to fit your personal and professional needs.
Throughout this course, you’ll have access to engaging content, including short videos, case studies, and practical tools, to help you build confidence in identifying and managing sepsis.
We also want to emphasize the importance of completing the Course Evaluation Form at the end of your learning journey. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve the course content, delivery, and overall learning experience for future participants. By sharing your thoughts, you help TLSPH continue to provide high-quality, impactful education.
If you encounter any challenges or have questions, we’re here to support you. For any assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Student Support at ss@thelondonschoolofpublichealth.com
Our dedicated team is ready to help you succeed.
Thank you for choosing TLSPH as your learning partner. We hope you find this course both informative and inspiring.
Warm regards,
The London School of Public Health Team
Who should take this course and Why:
This course is ideal for a range of healthcare professionals, particularly those who are responsible for direct patient care. Here’s who should take this course and why:
1. Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
- Why: Nurses are often the first to notice subtle changes in a patient’s condition. This course helps them sharpen their observational skills, recognize early warning signs, and initiate timely interventions to prevent further deterioration.
2. Allied Health Professionals (e.g., Physiotherapists, Paramedics)
- Why: These professionals frequently interact with patients in both acute and non-acute settings. Understanding how to recognize and respond to patient deterioration can significantly improve the outcomes in their care.
3. Healthcare Assistants and Support Staff
- Why: Support staff often spend considerable time with patients and can observe changes in behaviour or condition. Training them to recognize these signs empowers them to escalate concerns effectively to the clinical team.
4. Clinical Educators and Mentors
- Why: Clinical educators can benefit from the course by gaining deeper insights into deterioration management, allowing them to mentor and guide their teams with up-to-date practices and strategies.
5. Hospital Administrators and Policy Makers
- Why: Understanding the importance of early intervention and patient safety protocols can help shape policies and allocate resources for training, reducing incidents of preventable deterioration.
In short, anyone involved in patient care, from frontline practitioners to those shaping healthcare policies, will benefit from this course by improving patient outcomes and fostering a culture of safety in clinical environments.
What can I expect from this course?
In the Recognising the Patient with sepsis course, you can expect a comprehensive learning experience that equips you with essential skills for identifying early signs of patient deterioration and responding effectively. The course covers critical areas such as recognizing early warning signs, making informed clinical decisions, and knowing when to escalate care. You’ll learn practical approaches, including monitoring vital signs, interpreting clinical data, and using early warning systems like NEWS2 and more. The self-paced format allows flexibility, while periodic learning activities will test your knowledge to reinforce learning. You will engage with realistic clinical scenarios to practice decision-making, and a final comprehensive assessment (quiz) will evaluate your readiness to apply these skills in practice. By the end, you will be confident in your ability to recognise the patient with sepsis and ultimately improving patient safety and outcomes.
Module objective:
The objective of this module is to provide learners with the skills and knowledge required to recognize the early signs of sepsis and respond effectively. By the end of the module, participants will be able to:
- Identify Key Indicators of Deterioration: Understand how to recognize physiological changes, early warning signs, and subtle symptoms of patient decline.
- Apply Systematic Assessment Tools: Utilize early warning tools scoring systems (e.g., NEWS2) to assess and monitor patient status.
- Make Timely Clinical Decisions: Develop the ability to interpret patient data, prioritize interventions, and initiate appropriate responses to prevent further deterioration.
- Escalate Care Appropriately: Learn how and when to escalate concerns to senior healthcare providers or activate rapid response systems.
- Communicate Effectively with the Healthcare Team: Enhance communication and collaboration skills to ensure timely and coordinated care delivery during critical patient events.
Learning outcome:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Recognize Early Signs of Patient Deterioration: Identify key physiological and behavioural changes that indicate a patient’s condition is worsening.
- Apply Systematic Assessment Tools: Utilise early warning scoring systems (e.g., NEWS2) to assess patient health status effectively.
- Interpret Clinical Data: Analyse vital signs, lab results, and other relevant clinical information to detect early warning signs and guide interventions.
- Initiate Timely and Appropriate Interventions: Make informed clinical decisions and take action to stabilize deteriorating patients, preventing further decline.
- Escalate Care when Necessary: Recognize when a situation requires higher-level intervention and effectively communicate concerns to senior medical staff or initiate rapid response protocols.
- Communicate with the Healthcare Team: Develop clear, structured communication strategies to ensure seamless collaboration during patient emergencies and handovers.
- Enhance Patient Safety: Integrate the skills learned to minimize risks, improve patient outcomes, and contribute to a culture of safety in clinical practice.
HOW TO ACCESS YOUR COURSE
Step-by-Step Guide for Students Using Learn Press
Step 1: Access the Learn Press Dashboard
- Login to your student account on TLSPH website.
- Navigate to the Learn Press section, which may be listed under “Courses”
- Once you are in, you’ll see a dashboard that shows your enrolled courses, progress, and available learning resources.
Step 2: Enrol in a Course
- On the dashboard, browse the Course Catalogue or go to the “Courses” tab to find available courses.
- Select the course you want to enrol in by clicking on the course title.
- Click the “Enrol” or “Start Now” button. Some courses might be free, while others could require payment or a coupon code (if required, follow the instructions to complete the enrolment).
- After enrolling, you’ll be redirected to the course overview page.
Step 3: Navigate the Course
- On the course overview page, you will see key information such as the course description, structure, lessons, and instructor details.
- To begin, click on the first lesson or the “Start Course” button. You will now see a list of modules or lessons.
- Lessons may contain:
- Text content
- Videos
- Quizzes
- Assignments
- You can click on any lesson to start, and your progress will be saved as you move through the course.
Step 4: Complete Lessons; case scenario’s and watch video’s
- Inside each lesson, review the content, and make sure to understand key points.
- Some lessons may include quizzes at the end. To complete a quiz:
- Read the instructions carefully.
- Select your answers (multiple choice, true/false, etc.).
- Click “Submit” when finished.
- Once submitted, you’ll receive immediate feedback, and your scores will be recorded on the course progress dashboard.
Step 5: Track Your Progress
- You can track your learning progress from the course’s main page. Each completed lesson will have a checkmark or “Completed” status.
- Learn Press may show your percentage of course completion and how many lessons or quizzes are left.
Step 6: Engage with Course Content
- Many courses have additional resources like discussion forums, downloadable materials, or assignments. Engage with these materials to deepen your learning.
- If your course has forums, post questions or discuss topics with your peers and instructors.
Step 7: Complete the Course
- Once you have completed all lessons and quizzes, the course will show as 100% complete.
- Some courses may require final assignments or projects to be submitted.
- After successfully finishing, you will be awarded a CPD certificate of completion, which you can be download from your profile or the course completion page.
Step 8: View Your Achievements
- Return to the Learn Press dashboard to review your completed courses and achievements.
- You can also track your performance across multiple courses.
Tips:
- Check for notifications or updates on new lessons, quizzes, or course announcements from the instructor.
- If you encounter any issues or need help, email student support
TLSPH Department contact details
Departments |
|
Hours |
Finance |
finance@thelondonschoolofpublichealth.com |
09:00-17:00 |
Student support |
ss@thelondonschoolofpublichealth.com |
09:00-17:00 |
TIPS: FOR SELF DIRECTED ON-LINE STUDY
As you continue your online studies, with TLSPH here are a few key strategies to help you get the most out of your experience:
- Create a Dedicated Study Space: Set up a quiet, comfortable, and distraction-free area where you can focus solely on your coursework. This helps signal your brain that it’s time to work.
- Set a Schedule: Stick to a consistent study routine. Treat your online classes just like in-person ones by blocking time each day to review materials, complete assignments, and prepare for exams.
- Stay Organized: Use calendars or digital tools to track important dates like assignments, exams, and deadlines. Staying organized helps reduce stress and keep you on track.
- Engage Actively: Participate in online discussions, group projects, and virtual office hours with your instructors. Being an active learner will deepen your understanding of the material.
- Limit Distractions: It’s easy to get distracted online, so turn off notifications, set social media boundaries, and create a focused environment during study sessions.
- Take Regular Breaks: Studying for long periods can reduce productivity. Use techniques like the Pomodoro method (25-minute focused study with a 5-minute break) to keep your mind fresh.
- Use Resources: Take full advantage of online resources like e-books, video lectures, and academic tools. These can help clarify complex topics and supplement your learning. Many of our courses have all the resources you need embedded into the module.
- Ask for Help: If you’re struggling with something, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Tutor or classmates (Blended learning) Online learning doesn’t mean learning alone!
- Practice Self-discipline: Without the structure of a classroom, it’s easy to procrastinate. Develop good time management habits and hold yourself accountable for completing tasks.
- Stay Motivated: Remember your goals and why you’re studying. Keep your long-term objectives in mind to stay motivated and driven.
Online study can be incredibly rewarding if approached with discipline and strategy. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll maximize your learning potential!
Wishing you success in your studies!
Module Guide for “Recognising the Patient with Sepsis” Online Course
This course is designed to enhance participants’ ability to recognize, evaluate, and respond to sepsis effectively. Each module includes a short video (5-10 minutes) and accompanying resources to help learners assimilate new knowledge. The total estimated time for each module, including video and study materials, is provided below.
1. Introduction to Sepsis
- Objective: Understand what sepsis is, why it matters, and its global impact.
- Topics Covered: Definition, stages of sepsis, signs and symptoms, and the importance of early detection.
- Estimated Time: 60 minutes.
2. Epidemiology and Aetiology of Sepsis
- Objective: Learn about the global burden of sepsis, key risk factors, and causative pathogens.
- Topics Covered:
- Epidemiological data and trends.
- Common sources of infection
- Patient risk profiles (age, chronic illnesses, immunosuppression).
- Estimated Time: 60 minutes.
3. Early Warning Systems and Triage
- Objective: Recognize early signs of sepsis and understand how to prioritize patients in clinical settings.
- Topics Covered:
- Early warning scores (e.g., NEWS2).
- Triage protocols for septic patients.
- Differentiating sepsis from other conditions.
- Estimated Time: 30 minutes.
4. Clinical Evaluation and Sepsis Screening Tools
- Objective: Learn how to assess patients for sepsis using clinical tools and examinations.
- Topics Covered:
- Key diagnostic criteria (qSOFA, SOFA).
- Physical examination findings.
- Diagnostic tests (blood cultures, lactate levels).
- Estimated Time: 30 minutes.
5. Resuscitation and Referral
- Objective: Understand initial management principles and when to escalate care.
- Topics Covered:
- Initial resuscitation goals (e.g., fluid resuscitation, oxygenation).
- Criteria for referral to intensive care.
- Communication of critical information during referrals.
- Estimated Time: 30 minutes.
6. The Sepsis 6 Pathway
- Objective: Explore the Sepsis 6 bundle as a standardized approach to initial management.
- Topics Covered:
- Administering oxygen, obtaining blood cultures, and initiating antibiotics.
- Delivering fluids, monitoring lactate, and urine output.
- Case studies demonstrating the Sepsis 6 pathway in action.
- Estimated Time: 30 minutes.
7. Pathophysiology of Sepsis
- Objective: Gain insight into the underlying mechanisms of sepsis and its effects on the body.
- Topics Covered:
- The immune system’s role in sepsis.
- Effects of cytokine storms, tissue hypoperfusion, and organ dysfunction.
- Long-term impacts of sepsis on survivors.
- Estimated Time: 60 minutes.
Total Course Time
7 hours (including 2 hours additional time for optional review and supplementary activities).
Additional Features
- Interactive Quizzes: Each module includes activities to reinforce learning.
- Certificate of Completion: Issued upon successfully passing all final quiz.
- Further Resources: Links to journal articles, guidelines, and case studies for deeper learning.
This course equips healthcare professionals with essential knowledge and skills to recognise and manage sepsis effectively in their clinical practice.