Module 5 Presentation - Teaching Procedural Skills

1. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
Teaching Procedural Skills

2. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
How to Teach Procedures
• To many, teaching procedures is
one of most rewarding aspects of
clinical education.
• Several key principles:
– start with the basics
– allow opportunity for successful
completion of procedure
– preserve well-being of patient and
student

3. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
How to Teach Procedures
• Careful preparation is key
• Learn prior experiences of the learner
– Seen one? Tried one? What questions
do you have?
• Review clinical indications and
implications, not only the technical steps
• Review potential complications and how
to minimize them

4. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
How to Teach Procedures
• Review performance objectives
• Review equipment
• Review anatomy and physiology
• Review technique
• Anticipate questions
• Ensure preparation
– Consider videos, models, diagrams, simulations

5. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
How to Teach Procedures
• Use a systematic approach – review of
equipment, practice, speak steps aloud
• Always be mindful of patient’s experience
• Give thoughtful corrections as needed
– “Let me show you a helpful trick here”
– “I am going to adjust the position of your
hand”
• Understand when appropriate to take
over procedure

6. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
How to Teach Procedures
• Debrief after the procedure:
– Be specific and descriptive with
feedback
– Ask learners: What went well, what
did they learn? What questions do
they have?
– Give specific suggestions and an
action plan for improvement

7. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
Thought Question
Describe a procedure that was initially
challenging for you to master and
think about those that taught you to
perform it.
• What did they say or do that was
helpful or not helpful?
• How do these experiences influence
your own style when teaching a
procedure?

8. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
Thought Question
Think about the type of procedural
teaching that you do in your specialty.
• What new concept did you learn in
the video that you can apply to that
setting or to a specific procedure?

9. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
Thought Questions
• What are the biggest challenges
about teaching procedures in your
clinical setting?
• What strategies can you use to
address them?

10. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
Thought Question
You are in the room with an intern who
is performing a procedure for the first
time. You notice the resident is
struggling with the equipment.
• Describe your approach to assuring the
procedure is done correctly as well as
maintaining the patient’s safety and
comfort during the encounter.