SPIROMETRY TESTING AND INTERPRETATION FOR GENERAL PRACTICE

Dates: 28th and 29th April 2020  ​

Venue: Pennygate Medical Centre, Ladies Lane, Hindley, Wigan

​

This two day course has been developed in line with, (and will provide the learner with the knowledge and skills needed to meet the proposed standards for General Practice compliant diagnostic spirometry), set out in the following documents:

• Diagnostic Spirometry in Primary Care: Proposed Standards for GP compliant with American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society recommendations (Levy M et al Primary Care Respiratory Journal (2009); 18(3): 130-14)

• A Guide to Performing Quality Assured Diagnostic Spirometry (The Primary Care Commission 2013)    

​

A Brief Outline of Course Content

(Detailed course information/agenda/timetable/aims/objectives will be provided on booking)​

​

Day 1

• Purpose of Spirometry in General Practice

• Quality Assurance, Practice Management and Infection Control

• Pre-Test Preparation and Assessment

• Need to Know Anatomy and Physiology

• Trainer led Practical Demonstration

• Acceptability Criteria

• Practical Hands On Session with Trainer Facilitation and Support

• Basic Interpretation, Data Input, Record Keeping and Next Steps

• Whole Group Case Study Analysis

Day 2

• The Realities of Respiratory Disease in Real Life General Practice

• The Role and Uses of Spirometry in Real Life General Practice

• The Importance of Clinical History Taking

• Obstructive Lung Disorders

• Restrictive Lung Disease

• Mixed Obstructive and Restrictive Defects

• Making Sense of the FEV/FVC ratio (Fixed v LLN)

• Reversibility Testing

• Post Bronchodilator Spirometry

• Making Sense of Graphs

• The Differential Diagnosis of Breathlessness (a detailed case study analysis) 

• Bringing it all Together: A Step by Step Flow Chart Guide

• Whole Group Case Study Analysis

​

Supporting Materials

All course attendees are provided with a copy of our Practical Spirometry for General Practice book.

Certificate of Attendance and Competency Assessment

At the end of the study day you will be provided with a Certificate of Attendance and given the option to submit an portfolio of evidence and complete an online assessment test.   

​

Successful completion will lead to your name being placed on the Primary Care Respiratory Training Centre Spirometry Register and will serve as evidence that you have successfully completion of our assessment process.

​

Please note that completing the online assessment test, portfolio submission and marking AND entry onto the PCRTC register is provided free of charge to any HCP attending and successfully completing this 2 day course.     

​

Please note that, as with the national spirometry register, the PCRTC register is not mandatory.

​

The NMC have been contacted and asked to clarify whether or not it is mandatory for nurses performing and interpreting spirometry to register with and/or be placed on the national register. 

Please see the NMC reply below:

​

Thank you for your email:

​

It is not an NMC requirement for nurses that perform and/or interpret spirometry to register with ARTP for additional assessments and be placed on the National Register. This is a matter for individual nurses and employers.

We hope you have found this information of use.

Kind regards,

The Education and Standards team

Nursing and Midwifery Council

​