Lung Ultrasound for Nurses and Physiotherapists

Innovative and practical introductory course for physiotherapists and nurses to learn how to perform bedside lung and sternal ultrasound in clinical practice. Includes comprehensive on-line educational material, a supervised workshop as well as the opportunity for self-guided practice training using high-fidelity ultrasound simulators in The University of Melbourne Ultrasound Simulation Centre

OVERVIEW

Bedside point of care ultrasound is changing the rules in medicine and is rapidly becoming used by many clinical specialties.

Ultrasound of the lung enables non-invasive, rapid diagnosis and day to day monitoring of many acute lung conditions such as effusion, consolidation, atelectasis, pulmonary oedema and pneumothorax.

Ultrasound is more accurate than chest x-ray and doesn’t expose patients or staff to radiation and is now available on most hospital wards.

Ultrasound of the sternum enables early and accurate identification of sternal wound instability and dehiscence, which has significant implications for patient mobilisation and recovery after cardiac surgery.

DESIGNED FOR

Cardiorespiratory physiotherapists, physiotherapists and nurses

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learn how to perform and report ultrasound examination of the lungs and sternum in the erect and supine patient.

Understand the clinical uses and limitations of ultrasound in assessment of lung pathology and sternotomy, such as pleural effusion, consolidation, atelectasis, pulmonary oedema, pneumothorax and sternal stability after sternotomy.

COURSE OUTLINE COURSE UNITS

Introduction

Basic Modes of Ultrasound

Generating Ultrasound Images

Lung Ultrasound

Stenum Ultrasound

Case Studies and Reporting

Mentored clinical ultrasound ward rounds

1. Pre-reading: 4 units of self-assessments, 5 case studies and pre-workshop exam (online - 10 hours).

2. A supervised workshop at University of Melbourne Ultrasound Simulation Centre (3 hours).

3. 10 Lung simulator case studies, self-performed at the Simulation Centre (7 hours).

4. Online multiple-choice post-workshop exam.

5. Online log book.

6. Practical test.

A Certificate of Completion is provided upon satisfactory completion of the assessment

COURSE LEADERS

A/P Doa El-Ansary
BAppSc (Phty), Int. Cert. OMT, PhD, APAM

Dr David Canty
MMBBS PhD FANZCA PGDipEcho

ADDITIONAL AUTHORS

Lynda Tivendale
Alistair Royse
Kavi Haji
Andre Denault