This autonomic dysreflexia training course aims to improve knowledge and awareness of autonomic dysreflexia, equipping participants with the skills to identify and respond to this medical emergency effectively. You will understand what causes it, the signs to look for, and how to take action quickly to keep people safe.
This autonomic dysreflexia training course aims to improve knowledge and awareness of autonomic dysreflexia.
The course will help delegates understand the causes and consequences. This an essential course for anyone responsible for looking after spinal injury patients.
AD training is important for keeping patients safe, improving their quality of life, and helping healthcare professionals respond well to AD episodes. You will receive a nationally recognised certificate on completion of the course.
Understand Autonomic Dysreflexia: • Define autonomic dysreflexia (AD) and explain what causes it in the body. • Discuss why AD is serious for people with spinal cord injuries.
Recognise and Respond to AD Episodes: • Identify common and uncommon signs and symptoms of AD. • Explain what happens in the body during an AD episode and the dangers if not treated quickly.
Understand Causes and Triggers: • List common triggers such as bladder or bowel distension and discuss less obvious causes. • Engage in a problem-solving exercise to predict potential AD triggers in case studies.
Plan and Deliver Treatment: • Outline evidence-based treatment strategies, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. • Demonstrate how to manage an acute episode using interactive role-play exercises.
Document and Report AD Episodes: • Explain why good documentation is important for legal and clinical reasons. • Practice writing a care plan and incident report for someone who had AD.
Promote Person-Centred Care: • Define person-centred care and why it matters for people with AD. • Use role-play to better understand the patient’s point of view and how to adjust care.
Develop a Comprehensive Care Plan: List the essential components of a care plan for individuals with AD. • Collaborate in a group activity to draft a detailed care plan tailored to a specific scenario.
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Where Do You Deliver The Autonomic Dysreflexia Training?
We can deliver this training at your premises, as long as it's within the UK. We also have our own venues in the Midlands if you don't have access to a training room.
Also, we can deliver this training virtually using Zoom (Zoom sessions for this course will only be available for Theory only sessions)
Who is this training for?
This training is for anyone working within the health and social care sector.
How Many Delegates Can I Have On One Session?
We will deliver this training for a group of up to 12 delegates. For larger groups we can either provide multiple trainers on the same day or run multiple days to get everyone trained.
Who Will Conduct The Training?
One of our expert clinical tutors, these are either Nurses or Doctors with an abundance of clinical and complex care experience and knowledge - so you'll be in great hands!
We will let you know who is doing the training in advance, you can check out their skills and experience by finding them on our meet the team page.
Autonomic Dysreflexia Training Course
The Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD) Training Course equips individuals with the basic knowledge and skills to understand and manage AD, a serious health problem that can happen to people with a spinal cord injury at or above the T6 level.
The course explains what causes AD, what the signs are, and what can trigger it – like problems with the bladder or bowels. You will learn what happens in the body during an AD episode and how to act fast to keep the person safe.
Through group activities, case studies, and real-life examples, you will practise spotting the early signs of AD and giving the right support. You will also learn how to work with doctors, nurses, and families to support the person well.
The training teaches how to give care that is focused on the person, and how to talk and listen in a kind and clear way. It is made for healthcare staff, carers, support workers, and teachers in the UK. The course follows UK care rules, including those from the NICE and Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Taught by one of our experienced trainers, this course gives you useful tools you can use in your daily work. By the end, you will feel more ready and confident to prevent and manage AD, helping people stay safe and well. Upon successfully completing the course, you will receive a Level 2 Autonomic Dysreflexia Awareness.
Autonomic dysreflexia, also known as autonomic hyperreflexia, is a serious condition that can affect people with spinal cord injuries, especially if the injury is at or above the T6 level. It happens when the autonomic nervous system, which controls automatic functions like blood pressure and heart rate, doesn’t work properly.
Stroke risk: People with AD have a 300% to 400% higher risk of stroke.
Course Summary
We strongly suggest staff take these courses along with the Autonomic Dysreflexia course to fully understand how to help and support service users at risk of AD.
3: Potential Consequences of Autonomic Dysreflexia
Short-term and long-term problems caused by AD.
How AD can affect quality of life.
Why early action is crucial.
4: Causes and Triggers of Autonomic Dysreflexia
Common things that trigger AD.
How to figure out personal risk factors.
Ways to avoid triggers.
5: Treatment and Management of Autonomic Dysreflexia
Ways to manage AD without medicine.
Medicines to treat AD.
How to manage serious AD cases.
6: Documentation and Communication
Why keeping accurate records is important.
How to talk to doctors and caregivers.
How to record AD events and actions taken.
7: Person-Centered Care and Individualised Approaches
Understanding the needs of people with AD.
How to create a care plan just for them.
Helping people manage their own AD.
8: Essential Components of an Autonomic Dysreflexia Care Plan
How to find triggers for AD and reduce them.
What to do in an emergency with AD.
Why monitoring and checking is important.
Who Should Take This Course:
The following people should take the training:
Nurses
Physiotherapists
Occupational therapists
Doctors
Caregivers
Health and social care workers
Support staff working with people who have spinal cord injuries
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this Autonomic Dysreflexia course, participants will be able to:
Define and describe autonomic dysreflexia (AD).
Recognise the signs and symptoms of AD.
Understand the possible problems AD can cause.
Identify and manage the causes and triggers of AD.
Use proven treatments and strategies for AD.
Communicate well with healthcare providers and carers about AD.
Create care plans for AD that focus on the individual.
Record AD episodes and actions taken correctly.
Course Benefits:
Gain knowledge on how to recognise and manage autonomic dysreflexia (AD).
Learn how to create care plans that focus on each person’s needs.
Improve communication with healthcare teams and carers.
Be able to identify and manage the causes and triggers of AD.
Gain confidence in providing care for people with spinal cord injuries.
Learn practical steps to prevent and manage AD episodes.
Improve patient safety and quality of life for those at risk of AD.
Stay up to date with evidence-based treatments and strategies.
This course builds confidence in dealing with emergencies and working with other health and care staff. It follows UK care rules and helps make sure people at risk of AD get safe, kind, and proper care in hospitals, homes, and the community.
The training helps healthcare workers, carers, and support staff learn what signs to look for, what can trigger AD, and how to act quickly to keep someone safe. It also teaches how to give care that is centred around the person’s needs.
Course Reviews
We get thousands of reviews every year, and 99% of attendees rate us as ‘Excellent’ and say they would recommend us to others. We have experienced trainers and a helpful office team to assist with your booking.
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“Attend Autonomic Dysreflexia. It was great training. We understand about this topic how we do care like this type client after training” – Jainulabedin Patel
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“Autonomic dysreflexia training today was excellent. Recommend it to everyone who cares for anyone with AD.” – Judy Christmas
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“I attended the autonomic dysreflexia training. I would highly recommend.” – Sarah Fletcher
Career Opportunities
This training can help you in many care and health jobs. It shows you know how to support people with spinal cord injuries and respond to AD safely.
It is useful for people who work as:
Healthcare Assistants (HCAs)
Carers (in homes or the community)
Support Workers
Nursing Assistants
Rehabilitation Staff
Care Home Staff
Community Health Workers
Personal Assistants (PAs)
Social Care Workers
Education or SEN Support Staff
This course also helps if you want to move into other health and care jobs, or study more about spinal care or long-term conditions.
FAQs: Autonomic Dysreflexia Course
What is Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD) and why is it important to learn about it? Autonomic
Dysreflexia (AD) is a serious condition that can happen to people with spinal cord injuries, especially if the injury is above the T6 level.
It causes a sudden rise in blood pressure, which can lead to dangerous problems like a stroke. Learning about AD helps healthcare workers to catch it early and stop it from becoming dangerous.
Who should receive Autonomic Dysreflexia training?
People who take care of those with spinal cord injuries should learn about AD. This includes nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, carers, and anyone else who works with these patients.
What are the key topics covered in an AD training course?
The course covers what AD is, how to spot it, how to treat it, how to prevent it, and how to talk to other people about it. It also teaches how to keep good records of any AD episodes.
How long does a typical AD training course last?
Our training on AD lasts 2-3 hours to cover necessary areas, answer questions, and allow for classroom discussions. Participants will receive a Level 2 certificate endorsed by Skills for Care and CPD.
What are the signs and symptoms of Autonomic Dysreflexia?
Signs include a fast rise in blood pressure, sweating, headache, a red or flushed face, blurry vision, and feeling anxious. The person may also feel their heart racing or have warm skin.
How can healthcare professionals prevent AD episodes in patients with spinal cord injuries?
To prevent AD, healthcare workers need to look for and fix things that might cause AD, like a full bladder, constipation, or skin problems. Regular checks and early action are important.
How often should healthcare staff update their AD training?
Healthcare staff should update their AD training at least once a year, or anytime there are updates in medical guidelines.
What are the risks of untreated Autonomic Dysreflexia?
If AD isn’t treated, it can lead to very serious problems like stroke, seizures, or even death. It’s important to spot and treat AD early to avoid these risks.
Great course delivered as part of a complex care training package for a spinal injury patient, our staff now feel confident in their understanding and actions.
