Lakmini Loku Dadallage

1 Clinical Skills

Patient Care: Proficiency in assisting with daily activities (bathing, dressing, feeding, etc), ensuring patient comfort and dignity

Vital Signs Monitoring: Ability to measure and record temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rates accurately

Medication Support: Administering medications under supervision, understanding dosage, and recognizing side effects

Wound Care: Basic wound dressing, monitoring healing, and reporting any concerns

Infection Control: Ensuring hygiene standards, handling waste properly, and maintaining sterile environments to prevent the spread of infections

2 Communication Skills

Patient Communication: Building rapport, actively listening to patients, and ensuring their concerns are addressed compassionately

Team Communication: Clear, effective communication with nurses, doctors, and other healthcare staff to ensure smooth operations and accurate care delivery

Documentation: Accurately documenting patient care, condition changes, and interventions in health records

3 Supervisory and Leadership Skills

Team Leadership: Overseeing junior healthcare assistants, delegating tasks, and providing guidance

Training and Mentorship: Supporting the professional development of junior staff by sharing knowledge and skills, offering feedback, and conducting training sessions

Problem Solving: Handling patient or staff issues effectively and making sound decisions in challenging situations

4 Compassion and Empathy

Patient-Centred Care: Providing emotional support and responding to the individual needs of patients with kindness and respect

Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding and respecting the cultural, spiritual, and emotional needs of diverse patients

5 Organizational Skills

Time Management: Efficiently managing time to balance patient care, administrative duties, and supervision of staff

Task Prioritization: Identifying urgent patient needs and prioritizing tasks effectively, ensuring the best possible care

6 Attention to Detail

Observational Skills: Noticing changes in patients’ conditions and reporting them promptly to nurses or doctors

Accuracy in Record-Keeping: Ensuring that all patient data, medications, and treatments are recorded correctly and up to date

7 Technical Skills

Use of Medical Equipment: Familiarity with basic healthcare equipment like hoists, ECG machines, blood glucose monitors, etc

IT Literacy: Competency in using healthcare software systems for record-keeping and communication

8 Emotional Resilience

Handling Stress: Coping with emotionally demanding situations, such as end-of-life care, while maintaining professionalism

Adaptability: Ability to handle unexpected situations and changes in a dynamic healthcare environment

9 Health and Safety Awareness

Risk Assessment: Understanding of health and safety protocols, including manual handling, to minimize injury or harm to patients and staff

Emergency Procedures: Knowledge of how to respond in emergency situations such as falls, sudden illness, or other critical incidents These combined skills allow Senior Healthcare Assistants to provide high-quality care, support their teams, and ensure the well-being of patients