Ear Care Training

Our Ear Care training course is designed to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills required to safely assess the need for and perform ear irrigation using specialised ear irrigation devices.

This training covers how to perform this procedure in a variety of settings, including general practice, community care, emergency, residential care and pharmacy.

It is suitable for healthcare professionals already working in a healthcare setting with appropriate supervision and support - including both those with no prior knowledge of aural care or those who need an update in their skills and knowledge base.

Delegates will leave our Ear Care course with a competency based assessment document, which will enable them to undertake a period of supervised mentoring and practice.

A practical demonstration of how to use the propulse machine is included in this training however please note that we do not practice on “live subjects”.

Our Ear Care training has a recommendation rate of 100% and is accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners. On completion, delegates will be awarded with a certificate of attendance and 6 CPD points.

All Annie Barr Associates clinical courses are led by trainers who are qualified healthcare professionals with a wealth of clinical and teaching experience. Non-clinical courses are delivered by suitably qualified and experienced professionals who are experts on the subject matter.

Please note: This is a full day course. Delegates are asked to arrive at the venue for registration at 9.30am. The training will take place from 10.00am - 4.00pm.

Aims & Objectives

• To correctly identify the anatomy and physiology of the ear
• To understand consent and capacity and the relevance to ear care
• To be able to describe the importance of data protection and confidentiality
• To identify common minor ear abnormalities and ailments
• To be able to take an appropriate clinical history and informed consent
• To be able to correctly use an otoscope and other equipment
• To understand treatment of minor ear problems using best practice rationales
• To be familiar with current clinical evidence and product range
• To understand use and cleaning of necessary equipment
• To describe and understand how to correctly irrigate an ear for cerumen impaction and be aware of the complications
• To be able to make appropriate records and refer to other health professionals where necessary
• To understand the legal issues in relation to ear care
• To develop the knowledge and skills to correctly assess patients who require ear care/ aural hygiene
• To understand the importance of evidenced based practice and regular updates
• To be able to use the ear irrigation equipment when required

Course Content

• Role, responsibilities and clinics
• Accountability guidelines and requirements
• Ear anatomy and physiology
• How we hear
• The function of the ear
• Indications for ear irrigation
• Clinical context – consultation skills, history taking and differential assessment
• Examination of the ear using an otoscope
• The normal tympanic membrane
• Common ear problems: foreign bodies, earache, infection, earwax blockage (cerumen impaction)
• Ear irrigation (syringing) and reasons for carrying it out
• Complications/problems and how to address them
• Equipment and consumables
• Products & devices update – prescription and OTC range
• Infection control, safe disposal and cleaning of equipment
• Relevant policies and procedures
• Risk assessment
• Contraindications to ear irrigation
• Health and safety
• Patient safety
• Appropriate documentation – good record keeping and confidentiality
• Patient advice
• Discussion and sharing of good practice
• Legal aspects
• Prescribing
• Consent and capacity
• Competence and supervised practice
• Practice session
• Case Studies
• Treatments including OTC
• Risks and alternative therapies
• Research and evidence based practice

• Nurses
• HCAs
• AHPs

Delegates will be provided with a competence-based framework and materials to take back to their place of work, however will not be signed off as competent in the training session. We therefore recommend that delegates are in a place of work (or soon plan to be in a place of work) in which they will have access to a mentor that are themselves competent in this clinical skill to assess their competence.