PUID: 42 || PLAB 2 Mock 7 :: TeachingProcedures5: SC Injection

examiner mla
5 days ago
2 min read

Summary:

This station tests your ability to effectively teach a clinical skill—administering a subcutaneous injection—to a junior colleague or medical student. It focuses on your teaching technique, ability to assess prior knowledge, correct misunderstandings, explain clearly, and safety-net appropriately.

Key Points:

Teaching Structure and Communication

Begin with a brief, friendly greeting but avoid excessive small talk—time is limited.
Provide a clear overview of the session structure (e.g., “We’ll cover pre-procedure prep, the procedure itself, and precautions.”).
Explain why subcutaneous injections are used and what they are, upfront.
Use simple, non-technical language and explain all medical terms.
Encourage open dialogue: invite questions, be supportive, normalize anxiety.

Assessing Prior Knowledge

Ask what the learner knows about subcutaneous injections and why they’re interested in learning it.
Ask if they’ve observed or performed this procedure before.
Use open-ended questions to check understanding throughout.

Addressing Mistakes

Learners are expected to make errors; how you correct them matters.
Acknowledge and gently correct mistakes with paraphrased explanations.
Check understanding after corrections.

Important Considerations:

Always clarify the reason for teaching and tailor content to the learner's knowledge level.
Reinforce learning with active engagement and summarization.
Time management is key—prioritize critical elements and provide safety-netting.
Do not over-promise or refer students to unapproved external resources without clinical relevance.

Diagnostic Approach:

Not applicable as this is a teaching station, but ensure:
- Proper introduction to the concept of subcutaneous injections.
- Explanation of why, where, and how they are given.

Management:

Step-by-Step Teaching Outline:

Introduction: Purpose of the session, overview of content.
Purpose of Subcutaneous Injections:
- Used for medications like insulin, LMWH, certain vaccines.
Equipment Preparation:
- Syringe, needle, medication, alcohol swab, gauze, sharps bin, gloves.
Medication Check:
- Verify name, dose, expiry, right patient—preferably double-checked with a witness.
Pre-Procedure Checks:
- Confirm identity, inspect site, choose appropriate area (abdomen, thigh, arm, buttocks).
Injection Site Anatomy:
- Injection into subcutaneous fat (beneath dermis, above muscle).
Technique:
- Clean site, insert needle at appropriate angle, inject, withdraw, apply gauze.
Post-Procedure:
- Dispose of sharps safely, rotate injection sites to avoid lipodystrophy.
Precautions:
- Avoid inflamed or scarred areas; maintain aseptic technique.
Complications:
Lipodystrophy, reduced absorption with repeated use at same site.

Communication Skills:

Use clear, simple language.
Be concise but comprehensive—avoid stock or rehearsed phrases.
Demonstrate empathy and support.
Safety net: reassure that it’s okay not to cover everything and offer follow-up.
Encourage questions and provide relevant resources (trusted leaflets, websites).

Ethical Considerations:

Maintain professionalism; treat the learner with respect.
Avoid condescension or overloading with information.
Be truthful about limitations of session time and clinical scope.

Additional Resources:

GMC Good Medical Practice Guidelines
Teaching skills modules on NHS/educational platforms
Trusted sites like NICE, patient.info, and BMJ Learning