My trust (along with the CQC, NHSLA & HSE) are all keen on proof of competency with medical devices. When new equipment is purchased we expect manufacturers to supply competency based training and assessment for key trainers, at least. I have just been told by one pump manufacturer that they are not allowed to assess competency in their train-the-trainer course!! Their training is accredited by the R.C.N. and they will not allow the assessment to take place as part of the training!! If the trainers from the manufacturers aren't the experts, who is??? Do we have to write specific competencies for every medical device in an acute trust????? Has anyone else encountered (and overcome) this obstacle??

Yes
We write our own competencies for our medical equipment - basing it on the manufacturers competencies if possible. We do this as we might use the equipment in slightly different ways and not use certain functions so going exactly "by the book" might not be appropriate.
If you want to have a chat about medical device training please contact me. We have roughtly half our nurses recorded as competent on the equipment they use, that is around 25,000 competencies completed at the last count.
Robert

Thanks for that...where are you based...?

I have sent you a PM
RoJo

Hi, it is a strange decision, in particular when we have to look at the most innovative, flexible and efficient way of learning and training everyone on equipment. May I ask you how the equipment training data is captured and recorded in your Trust/Hospital? I strugle to find a programme which will enable me to assess (re-assess/update)staff and also record that training on different equipment ( including specialist equipment)
Any comments or ideas are welcome!

Anka
Read your PMs and contact me.
There is not "a programme" to do the assessment you have to do the work yourself but you can use ESR to help you with record keeping.
RoJo

As Ed might say:- Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Or, in this case:- Who assesses the assessor?

You certainly like that quote.

Although if you followed Plato's answer the Assessors would Assess themselves spurred on by a Noble lie.

Yes. I see it as part of my role in life to educate the Masses. Especially in this era of the Great Dumbing Down of the Plebs.

The Noble Lie? Indeed. Surely we can agree that it is at the very foundation of democracy (so-called), especially the British variety (which, IMHO, is but a façade, an ignis fatuus, an illusion or mere will-o'-the-wisp). That is, 'tis but a fleeting moment that remains only whilst the ballot is scored.

The Noble Lie only works (as it seemingly continues to do) just as long as the people believe it. And therein lies the rub. The Dumb Sheep are always afraid to face the Truth! Or, put another way, they prefer to believe the Lie ... because it is, to them, the more comfortable alternative.

Anyway ... back at the thread:- surely our "favourite quote"* was (is) most apt in this case?

* Which is, by the way, considered by many to be the most important Latin phrase of our time (and who am I to disagree?).

I think you will find it is the NHSLA and the Care Quality Commission.

RoJo

That may very well be the case, Robert ... but (as I said before) the answer leads to an infinite regression.

That is, the question can be asked ad infinitum!

The buck never stops it just get passed on.
In this case up the government hierachy and who puts them in place? We the voters so round it goes again.
RoJo

Ah until it finally reaches Government Policy, looks like we've found the noble lie!

Hi there, I was wondering if I could have a bit of guidance with the database (ESR) issue. How do you capture that training in your hospital and how do you perform the updates? how do you getthe equipment Training Needs Analysis( through ESR) as it is a very painful process?
Anca

Give me a call it is easier to talk than post.
RoJo

Good day people.
A pump manufacturer will indeed offer a competency document with a training schedule, but as already pointed out not all of that information will be relevant to every traing session or trust, therefore it is a guideline. However when a pump manufacturer comes into your hospital, they adhere to the competency document and base their training verbatum (or should)on said competency document.
However, the RCN state that manufacturers cannot sign the attendees off as 'competent' in a classroom situation, they cannot be signed of as having 'an understanding' either, they can only be signed of as 'attended'
This solution can be solved by the manufacturers trainer offering a self certified competency document signed by the attendee on the date of the training as 'attended' (they could have been asleep all through the session), and countersigned by the trainer on that date, with an additional signature box and date of attainment box blank for their clinical supervisor or clinical trainer to sign and date when they have been assesed in a clinical environment.
You would be amazed at how many staff use these sessions for 40 winks, so to sign them off as competent can only be done in a clinical environment.
Hope that helps.

"Attended" That means nothing. The nurse could have fallen asleep and woke up just in time to get her certificate.
Some manufactureres do run Competency Based Training and the trainers are former nurses, known as Clinical Trainers. These trainers get the trainee to understand the device by setting it up in different ways, so that the the nurse understands the device and program it to suit any local protocol.