COMPASS is the training course for healthcare professionals involved in the National Early Warning Score programme. The ViEWS score is calculated from a patient’s vital signs, triggering an escalating series of interventions.
The course is intended to teach healthcare staff how to anticipate, recognise and prevent critical illness at an early stage, thereby preventing unnecessary cardiac arrest and improving the quality of care for those patients who may subsequently require admission to a critical care facility.
The COMPASS course explains the rationale for the ViEWS score, how to calculate it and how to act on a rising score.
Eligibility
It is intended for participants who provide healthcare to patients in a wide variety of settings. COMPASS is most valuable for ward-level medical and nursing professionals.
These healthcare professionals may include (but are not limited to) Resident Medical Officers, Interns, Clinical Nurse Managers and Nurses.
COMPASS or COMPASS+? View the comparison chart here (pdf).
Eligibility Checklist
Healthcare Provider
Working in a hospital/clinic that uses the National Early Warning Score system
Course content
PHYSICIAN & NURSE LED GROUP DISCUSSIONS
- The anatomy and physiology of shock
- The ViEWS score
- Calculating the ViEWS score
- ViEWS example case
- Troubleshooting
- Practical scenario x 4
SKILLS TRAINING (COMPASS+ ONLY)
- Vital signs measurement technique
- ABCDE assessment
- Oxygen therapy
- Non-invasive airway management (OPA)
- Non-invasive ventilation (BVM)
- Human factors aspects of Early Warning Scores
PHYSICIAN/NURSE-LED ROLEPLAY SCENARIOS
Practical scenarios involve students working together in teams of four, managing simple cases discussed during the group discussions using simulation manikins and real equipment (including airway and oxygen delivery devices, IV access and fluid therapy and an assortment of monitoring devices).
Cases are presented to the students using realistic hospital charts including case notes, admission details, vital signs and drug prescription charts.
Students are encouraged to approach the case systematically as a team and to call for expert help when appropriate.
Duration
- CD-ROM tutorial 2 hours
- Face-to-face 4 hours (COMPASS), 6 hours (COMPASS+)
Criteria for successful completion
There is no formal assessment on the COMPASS course. Students must attend the full course and actively participate in the group discussions and roleplay scenarios.
Certification
Instructors
Course materials
The following materials are delivered to the candidate’s work address by registered courier.
- An Official COMPASS Provider textbook
- A COMPASS Tutorial CD-ROM
- A course programme
Online component?
CPD/CEU credits?
All Code Blue courses are eligible for CPD/CME points. The exact number of points you can claim depends on what your occupation/speciality is.
This course is eligible for up to 4 hours (6 hours for COMPASS+) of face-to-face CPD and up to 2 hours of online CPD.
More information on Medical Council and An Bord Altranais