Seminars
Six seminars covering a range of topics are on offer over the three-day programme. Find out more about each of them below.
1. Understanding the experience of dementia
Rachel Thompson, RCN Dementia Adviser, and Trevor Jarvis, who is living with dementia
This session will provide participants with an improved understanding of the needs of people with dementia and their families and how to care for them. This will include recognising signs and symptoms, understanding the effect on physical and mental wellbeing, and progression of the condition. It will identify useful strategies for supporting individual needs by promoting effective communication, gathering life story information, supporting activity and making environments more dementia-friendly.
2. Hearing aids and assistive devices
Lorraine Briscoe, Senior Community Support Officer, Action on Hearing Loss
This session aims to ensure attendees have a basic understanding of the technologies available to deaf and people with hearing impairments, and the importance of keeping them well maintained. Attendees will see a selection of analogue and digital hearing aids which they may come across in their day to day work, and will be shown the importance of regular hearing aid maintenance. There will also be a display and chance to try out some assistive technologies such as induction loops, visual doorbells, and vibrating alarms. Finally, there will be explanation of Action on Hearing Loss’s telephone and online hearing check, which attendees can use to check their own hearing.
3. Can you talk about dying?
Amanda Cheesley, RCN Long Term Conditions Adviser
This interactive session explores the terminology surrounding death and dying. It is an opportunity to discuss fears and concerns when working with people approaching the end of their life, and looks at ways to have a conversation with patients about their wishes. The session will also touch on advanced care planning and preferred priorities for care.
4. Living with sight loss
Sharon Almond, Principal Access Consultant, Royal National Institute of Blind People
This interactive session aims to improve your skills when dealing with blind and partially sighted people. There will be an overview of the four main eye conditions in the UK: cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration. This will be followed by practical advice on how small changes to service and environment can make a big difference to people with sight loss.
5. Promoting the inclusion of people with learning disabilities in general health services.
RCN Learning Disabilities Forum Committee members
People with learning disabilities have significant health inequalities and high health needs which often go unmet. This session explores the evidence and issues and discusses the barriers experienced by people with learning disabilities when accessing general health services. It goes on to discuss the actions necessary to promote equality of access to health services.
6. The Principles of Nursing Practice
HCA and AP Committee members and RCN Institute staff
This session will give an overview of the Principles of Nursing Practice and why they were developed. It will look at how the participants can apply the principles to their working life. We will then look at some examples and discuss how the principles can make a difference to patient care. We will finish the session with a chance for reflection and an opportunity to make a ‘Principles Promise’.
