General

Question 1

What is PAT testing?

Answer 1

Portable appliance testing - when electrical appliances are routinely checked for safety

Question 2

Before we change anything at all in the lab, i.e. equipment, reagents, anything on databases etc what do we have to do?

Answer 2

Full impact assessment - as these changes may upset processes downstream

Question 3

Importance of IQC and EQA?

Answer 3

IQC - ensures testing has worked correctly and that no contamination has taken place.
EQA - assesses that the lab is meeting correct standard in terms of analysis and reporting and ensures that the lab is achieving the correct result

Question 4

What does good scientific practice set out?

Answer 4

Standards of behaviour and practice that must be achieved and maintained in the delivery of work activities and the provision of care by healthcare associates/practitioners/scientists by the academy of healthcare science

Question 5

What are the 5 domains of good scientific practice?

Answer 5

Professional, scientific and clinical practice, as well as research/development/innovation and clinical leadership

Question 6

What does CPD stand for?

Answer 6

Continuing professional development

Question 7

Why is CPD important?

Answer 7

To continually develop my knowledge and skills as a scientist. It also allows me to interact with colleagues/individuals from other departments etc and allows me to better understand the impact that HCS has in the NHS

Question 8

What is the most important thing to remember about the work that we do?

Answer 8

That there is a patient at the centre of what we are doing, and every decision we make about testing/analysis/reporting needs to be the one that benefits that the patient the most

Question 9

What does governance mean?

Answer 9

The action or manner of an organisation

Question 10

What does information governance mean?

Answer 10

The management of information at an organisation. It balances the use and security of information.

Question 11

What is research?

Answer 11

Systematic investigation undertaken to establish facts and increase knowledge

Question 12

What do they mean by innovation?

Answer 12

New method/technique/product

Question 13

Name some leadership skills

Answer 13

Communication, motivation (to inspire), delegating, trusting, creativity, feedback, responsibility, commitment, approachable

Question 14

Is reflection important in our job?

Answer 14

Yes, it is key to learning. Learning about what I am good at, as well as things I can improve on. It enables us not to make the same mistake twice if something has gone wrong

Question 15

What is the main role of UKAS?

Answer 15

It is the UK’s national accreditation body and is responsible for determining, in the public interest, the technical competence and integrity or organisations such as those offering testing, calibration and certification services

Question 16

What is the NHS Constitution?

Answer 16

English. Sets out principles and values of the NHS. What it wants to achieve, how it wants to operate fairly and effectively and the rights to which patients/public and staff are entitled

Question 17

Why is feedback important?

Answer 17

It helps improvement

Question 18

Communication can be written and electronic, verbal and non-verbal give examples

Answer 18

Letters (to patients, but also between medical professionals i.e. GP and consultant), information leaflets of disorders/testing, emails, information websites, body language

Question 19

Effective communication between a healthcare professional and a patient can help in a number of ways explain

Answer 19

Helps identify problems accurately
Increases patient satisfaction
Enhances treatment adherence
Reduces patient distress and anxiety

Question 20

Different question types that can be used in a communication

Answer 20

Directed question
Open question
Closed question

Question 21

Example of a directed question

Answer 21

“Is there anything that makes the headache worse?”

Question 22

Example of an open question

Answer 22

“Tell me why you’ve came to see me?”

Question 23

Example of a closed question

Answer 23

These want a specific yes or no answer

Question 24

Effective feedback must be:

Answer 24

Specific, accurate, objective, timely, usable, desired by the receiver and checked for understanding

Question 25

Example of a feedback model is SMART - what does this stand for?

Answer 25

S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Achievable
R - Relevant
T - Timely

Question 26

The feedback sandwich is another feedback model

Answer 26

Begin with positive feedback, introduce constructive/negative feedback and finish with a positive statement

Question 27

What is an action plan?

Answer 27

A written framework to show how you will improve some aspect of your work over a period of time

Question 28

What should an action plan entail?

Answer 28

Changes hope to make, manageable steps to make the changes, who will be involved, what evidence of success is required, how changes will be monitored

Question 29

Can SMART be used in terms of an action plan also?

Answer 29

Yes, goals set out in action plan should be SMART

Question 30

Why is public engagement so important in science?

Answer 30

Increases trust (science often seen as remote/distant), encourages people to get involved in research, accountability (lots of science is publically funded so public has right to know what their money is used for), encourages young people to develop careers in science

Question 31

When presenting to an audience what is the most important thing to remember about your choice of communication?

Answer 31

Tailor it to the audience

Question 32

Name some barriers to effective communication?

Answer 32

Jargon, emotional barriers/taboos (i.e things people don’t want to talk about), no interest/distractions, language differences, cultural differences, physical disabilities

Question 33

Explain some factors in effective teamwork

Answer 33

All understand objectives and working towards same outcome, want to learn from each other, communication is good between members, each member has a defined role - no duplication/no fallouts, workload spread out

Question 34

What is prejudice?

Answer 34

An unfair assumption based on an aspect of their appearance/personality

Question 35

Guidance and laws relating to patient confidentiality

Answer 35

GSP and NHS code of practice of protecting patient confidentiality and data protection act (how data should be used/stored)

Question 36

Guidance and laws relating to information governance

Answer 36

Data protection act and there is a document on information governance in NHS Scotland

Question 37

Guidance and laws relating to informed consent

Answer 37

GSP

Question 38

Guidance and laws relating to equality and diversity

Answer 38

Equality act - protects people from discrimination in workplace and wider society

Question 39

Guidance and laws relating to fitness to practice

Answer 39

HCPC’s approach to fitness to practice

Question 40

Ways to demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development

Answer 40

Perform tasks, seek feedback from colleagues, critically self reflect these should all lead to improvements in performance

Question 41

How often should we as healthcare scientists reflect and ask for feedback?

Answer 41

Reflection and learning from feedback should be continuous

Question 42

What does reflective practice allow you to do?

Answer 42

Analyse a situation, continuously learn and improve

Question 43

Step’s in Gibbs reflective cycle (a good model of reflection)

Answer 43

Description (what happened?), thoughts/feelings, evaluation (good/bad about experience), analysis, conclusion, action plan

Question 44

Different methods of reflection?

Answer 44

Reflective journal/peer group reflection