Continence Care Training

Continence Care Training

Continence care training is training for healthcare professionals on how to assess, manage, and support people with incontinence. Incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine or stool. It can be a really tough and weakening situation, but it is often manageable with the right care. This Continence care training aims to provide an understanding of issues surrounding continence care and demonstrates best clinical practice.

Continence care training is important for healthcare professionals because it allows them to provide the best possible care to people with incontinence. It also helps to reduce the stigma associated with incontinence and improve the quality of life for people with the condition.

If you are a healthcare professional and are interested in learning more about continence care training, please fill the enquiry form or call us during work hours.

In this course you will gain expertise in conservative urinary incontinence management through assessment, bladder retraining, scanning technology and more.

Course Overview

This course provides specialised instruction on managing urinary incontinence through proper assessment, conservative treatments, and continence care approaches.

Learn how to accurately assess patients, implement bladder retraining programs, utilise scanning technology, and select appropriate continence products.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this continence course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the anatomy and physiology of the urinary and digestive systems.
• Identify the different types of incontinence, including urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence, and mixed incontinence.
• Recognise the common causes of incontinence, including age, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, neurological conditions, and certain medications.
• Distinguish between red flags that require immediate medical attention and more common symptoms that can be managed through lifestyle modifications or interventions.
• Explore a range of management and support options, including behavioural modifications, pelvic floor exercises, medications, and medical devices.

Continence Care Course Outline

Module 1: The Urinary System

Understanding how the urinary system works is crucial for properly managing incontinence. This module gives you a clear picture of the anatomy and function of the bladder, urethra, and sphincters that control urination. Knowing the process of micturition helps you identify causes and solutions.

• Anatomy and physiology of the urinary system.
• The role of the bladder, ureters, urethra, and sphincters.
• The process of micturition.

Module 2: The Digestive System

Like with urination, bowel incontinence relates closely to the digestive system’s anatomy and physiology. Learning about the role of the intestines, rectum, anus, and sphincters will help you understand the mechanics behind passing stool. It also aids in pinpointing sources of incontinence.

• Anatomy and physiology of the digestive system.
• The role of the stomach, intestines, rectum, and sphincters.
• The process of digestion and elimination.

Module 3: Types of Incontinence

Being able to distinguish between different forms of urinary and faecal incontinence is so important for proper diagnosis and treatment. Once you can characterise the specific type a patient is experiencing, you can zero in on tailored management approaches.

• Urinary incontinence: stress incontinence, urge incontinence, overflow incontinence, functional incontinence.
• Fecal incontinence: urge faecal incontinence, overflow faecal incontinence, mixed faecal incontinence.
• Mixed incontinence.

Module 4: Common Causes of Incontinence

Many factors can contribute to incontinence, from ageing and childbirth to neurological issues and constipation. This module gives you a solid grasp of the range of potential causes to consider based on a patient’s profile and symptoms. It builds your critical thinking skills for getting to the root factors.

• Age-related changes
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Menopause
• Neurological conditions, such as stroke or multiple sclerosis
• Certain medications
• Obesity
• Chronic constipation

Module 5: Red Flags

Some incontinence symptoms warrant urgent medical attention. Being able to identify high-risk red flags can help ensure serious cases don’t get overlooked. You’ll gain vigilance for alarming signs like blood in urine or stool, difficulty voiding, and sudden onset that require prompt handling.

• Blood in the urine or stool.
• Severe abdominal pain.
• Difficulty urinating or having a bowel movement.
• Sudden onset of incontinence.
• Incontinence that worsens rapidly.

Module 6: Management and Support

The good news is many incontinence cases can improve with conservative treatments like bladder training, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes. This module gives you a toolkit of first-line approaches to try before considering medications or surgery. This module covers management approaches for incontinence.

• Behavioural modifications: fluid management, bladder training, bowel training.
• Pelvic floor exercises.
• Medications.
• Medical devices, such as catheters and pessaries.
• Lifestyle changes: weight management, regular exercise, smoking cessation.
• Emotional support and counselling.

Who Should Attend?

• Nurses and healthcare assistants.
• Care home staff.
• Home health aides.
• Community continence advisors.
• Anyone managing urinary incontinence.

Course Benefits

Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of incontinence, enabling them to:

• Discuss their concerns with healthcare providers more effectively.
• Make informed decisions about their treatment options.
• Manage their incontinence more effectively.
• Improve their quality of life.

A case study activity helps apply key concepts to develop a continence management plan.

This complete continence care training ensures you can support patients in controlling urinary incontinence using proven conservative techniques.

How long will the training last?

This training will last 2 – 3 hours. We give a range of time to account for variable factors such as; underlying knowledge and competence of delegates, class interaction and engagement and reduced delegate numbers.

If a course finishes earlier than the allotted time, it will be due to one of these reasons.

However, our trainer will ensure that all learning outcomes have been met.

Continence Care FAQs

Q: What is continence care?

A: Continence care involves assisting individuals in managing their bladder and bowel functions to stay dry and comfortable.

It entails maintaining control over when and where one goes to the toilet.

Q: What is the meaning of continence training?

A: Continence training teaches individuals techniques to control their bladder and bowel movements.

It includes strategies to improve timing, habits, and muscle control for better management.

Q: What can a continence nurse do?

A: A continence nurse assists individuals with bladder and bowel issues. They provide education, support, and guidance on managing continence problems.

This may involve recommending exercises, lifestyle changes, or medical interventions.

Q: What is the difference between continence and incontinence?

A: Continence means having control over bladder and bowel functions, being able to decide when and where to go to the toilet.

Incontinence, on the other hand, refers to the inability to control these functions, leading to unexpected leaks.

Q: Who can perform a continence assessment?

A: A healthcare professional, such as a doctor, nurse, or physiotherapist, can perform a continence assessment.

They will evaluate an individual’s bladder and bowel habits, medical history, and conduct physical examinations to understand and address any issues.

Q: How do you monitor continence?

A: Monitoring continence involves keeping track of bathroom habits and any issues with leakage.

Individuals can use a bladder diary to record when they go to the toilet, how much they drink, and any instances of incontinence.

This information helps healthcare professionals assess and plan appropriate care.

Q: What is continence management?

A: Continence management involves strategies and practices to help individuals maintain control over their bladder and bowel functions. It encompasses various approaches to prevent or address issues related to incontinence.

Q: What is a continence management plan?

A: A continence management plan is a personalised strategy designed by healthcare professionals to address an individual’s specific bladder and bowel needs. It outlines steps, exercises, and interventions to manage and improve continence.

Q: What is the role of professionals in the management of continence?

A: Professionals play a crucial role in continence management. They assess, diagnose, and create personalised plans for individuals with bladder and bowel issues. This may involve nurses, physiotherapists, or doctors who provide guidance, support, and necessary interventions.

Q: What should you do to maintain continence?

A: To maintain continence, individuals should adopt healthy habits, such as staying hydrated, maintaining a balanced diet, and practicing pelvic floor exercises. Timely visits to the bathroom and avoiding irritants can also contribute to continence.

Q: Who can do a continence assessment?

A: A continence assessment can be conducted by healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, or physiotherapists. They evaluate an individual’s bladder and bowel habits, medical history, and conduct examinations to identify and address continence issues.

Q: What is the meaning of continence training?

A: Continence training involves teaching individuals techniques to enhance control over bladder and bowel movements. It includes educating on proper habits, exercises, and strategies to improve timing and muscle control for effective continence management.

As I have told others... It is the best, most informative training I have ever attended