Clinical Skills

Taking blood cultures from an adult patient. Blood cultures involves the collection of venous blood via an aseptic technique to detect infections spreading via the bloodstream. Original material by Dr Paul Harrison & Dr Charlotte Gilhooly.

Scrubbing in for a surgical procedure. Surgical scrubbing involves the use of an aseptic technique to minimise the number of pathogens on the hands to reduce the incidence of post-operative infection. Original material by Miss Lisa Moyes & Dr Clare Arneil.

The procedure of correct clinical handwashing required when dealing with patients. Handwashing is the single most important procedure for preventing nosocomial infection as hands are the most common route of transmission. Performed by Hannah Muir.

Closure of a simple incised wound using interrupted sutures. Suturing involves the insertion of material to maintain the satisfactory closure of a wound, and to aid healing of the wound by primary intention. Performed by Laura Combe and Mr Brian Stewart.

Inserting a nasogastric tube into an adult patient. Nasogastric intubation involves the insertion of a tube through the nose into the stomach, via the oesophagus, which is used to remove stomach contents or to administer food or drugs. Performed by Hannah Muir and Alna JP Robb.

Inserting a urinary catheter into a male adult patient. Catheterisation is the passing of a plastic tube, known as a catheter, through the patient’s urethra, into the bladder, to permit the free passage of urine. Performed by Hannah Muir & Tahir Qayyum.

Recording a 12 lead ECG in an adult patient. Electrocardiogram is a graphic representation of the electrical activity of the heart, used to detect any abnormal rhythms. Performed by Darren Raffo, Euan Allan & Julia Fortune.

Inserting a urinary catheter into a female adult patient. Catheterisation is the passing of a plastic tube, known as a catheter, through the patient’s urethra, into the bladder, to permit the free passage of urine. Performed by Hannah Muir & Mr Tahir Qayyum.

Taking an arterial blood gas sample in an adult patient. Arterial blood gas measurement involves the sampling of blood from an artery to determine the pH, the PO2, PCO2, and the HCO3- levels. Performed by Laura Combe.