Basic Clinical Skills

Dear Students,

Basic Clinical Skills is part of the General Medicine curriculum from the very first year of study. Its aim is to gradually prepare you for contact with patients and for situations you will encounter later in your studies and in clinical practice.

The course integrates theoretical knowledge, practical skills, communication, clinical reasoning, and teamwork. You will not only learn individual procedures – you will learn how to approach patients systematically, safely, and professionally.

Teaching takes place in small groups and is predominantly practical and simulation-based. You will work with task trainers and patient simulators, as well as role players and simulated patients. Teaching scenarios take place in environments designed to resemble an outpatient clinic, hospital room, emergency department, or ambulance.

Link for MsTeams

Ms Teams can be found here.

 

What you will find in this team

Announcements	current organisational information and changes
Study plan	weekly topics, locations, required preparation, and equipment
E-learning	courses and study materials; activities are completed in Moodle
Assessment	criteria for continuous assessment, the test, and the practical examination
Contact and absence	how to contact us, request an excused absence, and arrange a replacement

What will you learn during the course?

Communicating with patients and the healthcare team

You will learn how to:

• establish professional contact with a patient and introduce yourself,
• conduct a basic patient interview and take a medical history,
• ask focused questions about the patient’s symptoms and concerns,
• apply the basic principles of patient-centred communication,
• hand over patient information using the structured ISBAR tool,
• record and structure basic clinical information,
• communicate in more challenging clinical situations.

Approaching the patient systematically

One of the most important aims of the course is to teach you how to approach a patient safely and systematically, particularly when the patient’s clinical condition is deteriorating.

You will gradually learn to use:

• ABCDE – a systematic approach to the assessment of a critically ill patient,
• ISBAR – structured clinical handover,
• SOCRATES– systematic assessment of symptoms, particularly pain,
• SOAP notes– structured documentation of clinical information.

From your first year, you will therefore encounter basic clinical situations such as chest pain, shortness of breath, allergic reactions, shock, and acute deterioration of a patient’s condition.

Performing basic clinical skills

Practical training includes, for example:

• measuring and assessing vital signs,
• basic physical examination,
• collection of biological specimens,
• venous blood sampling,
• insertion of a peripheral intravenous cannula,
• basics of ultrasound-guided venous cannulation,
• medication administration,
• infusion therapy,
• oxygen therapy and inhalation therapy,
• basic procedures related to blood transfusion,
• sterile technique,
• wound care and dressing changes,
• urinary catheter care,
• basics of ECG,
• basics of diagnostic imaging,
• basic life support and other procedures required in patient care.

An important part of the course is also patient safety, error prevention, and effective collaboration between members of the healthcare team.

How will the teaching be organised?

You will not spend your classes simply listening. Most of the time, you will be practising skills, communicating, solving clinical situations, and simulating patient care.

Teaching may include:

• practising individual clinical skills,
• working with task trainers,
• working with patient simulators,
• communicating with simulated patients,
• managing clinical scenarios,
• teamwork,
• reflection and debriefing after simulations.

Simulation is a safe environment for learning

Simulation gives you the opportunity to experience a clinical situation before encountering it with a real patient.

Mistakes are allowed during the learning process.

The purpose is not to catch you out or punish you. A mistake is an opportunity to understand why it happened, how to recognise it, and what you can do differently next time.

Some simulations may feel stressful. This is a natural part of learning to work in a clinical environment. We do not expect first-year students to have the knowledge of a qualified doctor – we expect preparation, active participation, teamwork, and a willingness to learn.

Preparation for lessons

Before practical sessions, you may be assigned:

• e-learning modules,
• short videos,
• written materials,
• instructions for individual procedures,
• other preparatory tasks.

Preparation for teaching is mandatory and must be completed before you attend the session. If the required preparation has not been completed, you will not be able to participate in the practical part of the class.

We want to use practical teaching time primarily for practising and applying knowledge, rather than repeating information that can be studied in advance.

What should you bring to class?

For practical teaching, please bring:

• the required clinical attire,
• a stethoscope,
• writing materials,
• any additional equipment specified by your instructor.

Please follow all rules regarding hygiene, safety, and professional conduct applicable to teaching in simulation and clinical environments.

Assessment

Your performance will be assessed continuously throughout the semester, and an important component of the course is the practical assessment of the skills you have acquired.

In both semesters, you will undertake an OSCE – Objective Structured Clinical Examination. At individual stations, you will demonstrate your ability to apply the knowledge, communication strategies, and practical skills you have learned to a specific clinical situation.

Assessment is not based solely on whether you perform a technical procedure correctly. We also assess:

• patient safety,
• a systematic approach,
• communication,
• professionalism,
• the ability to recognise a problem,
• appropriate prioritisation,
• the ability to communicate important information to another member of the healthcare team.

What do we expect from you?

Please come to every session prepared and on time. During classes, we expect active participation, cooperation with your fellow students, and respect for everyone involved in the teaching process.

You do not have to know everything.

However, you should be prepared to try, think, ask questions, accept feedback, and gradually improve.

The aim of the course is to help you develop good clinical habits from the very beginning of your studies and gradually gain confidence in your interactions with patients.

Clinical skills cannot be learned by reading alone. They need to be tried, practised, reflected upon, and repeated.