Examples and guides for completing your Student’s ePAD

Use the links above to navigate between ePAD guides

Please use the examples below as guides for completing your students’ ePADs.

Please note that academic regulations with regard to plagiarism and the use of AI apply to the completion of the ePAD. If you suspect that your student has used AI or has copied sections of their ePAD, please discuss your concerns with your coach in practice, Academic Assessor, the placements team or course leads for advice and guidance.

The examples below are not specific to any particular area or field of nursing. Where dates are needed, e.g. in the initial interview or for action plans, please ensure that your student has chosen realistic and achievable dates.

Initial Interview

There is no need to comment on the initial interview – if you are happy that your student has entered an accurate representation of your conversation with them, then please approve the section.

Midpoint Interview

Practice Assessor’s comments: Discuss with the student their self-assessment and comment on their progression using the criteria for Assessment in Practice Descriptors, detailing evidence used to come to your decision.

Knowledge

Becky is eager to learn and absorb knowledge, and continues to gain the valuable assessment skills that will serve her well once she becomes a qualified nurse. As a nurse we are constantly assessing our patients and we will continue to work on this with Becky so that by the end of her placement in pre operative assessment she is able to manage her own small caseload of patients and put the knowledge she has acquired whilst on placement into practice with these patients which in turn will help with her leadership and delegation skills. Becky has shown some excellent knowledge regarding commonly used medications – we have discussed now putting this into practice with regards to patient advice when discharging patients under supervision

Skills

Skills such as ECG and observations are easily achievable within pre op as they are used on a daily basis to assess patients from minor to major + surgery, careflow for notes tracking etc is especially important is we need to know where patients notes are at all times which may not seem important but is vital to the smooth running of the department. By the end of placement we aim for Becky to have her own caseload of patients – approx 2 -3 patients per day to manage and ensure that the patients are as optimised for surgery and signed of in time for surgery – I believe she is on track for this currently and has met this challenge with enthusiasm. Becky has shown that she is eager to participate in as many skills as possible – we have discussed mastering a set few before trying to do too many.

Attitudes and Values

Becky has an amazing empathy for the patients and a great attitude towards learning and patient care. It is frustrating when patients are cancelled for surgery due to a number of reasons, but I feel I have been able to provide her with a good knowledge base of why this can happen and the reasons behind it. It is difficult not to get emotionally attached to patients when this happens, and it is a skill that she will continue to perfect over the coming years. She treats all of her patients with the greatest respect, regardless of their background, and I have received good feedback from other members of staff and patients regarding this.

Endpoint Interview

Knowledge

Becky has been able to acquire a vast amount of knowledge during her placement. She has been able to learn new knowledge on many medical conditions, gain experience looking after patients from all backgrounds in a holistic and safe setting, as well as gain experience working on a fast-paced and ever-changing acute medical unit, whereby every day is completely different. Knowledge on assessing and monitoring patients has been expanded on, as well as her knowledge on how to treat specific medical conditions and how to look out for the signs and symptoms when someone is deteriorating from multiple aspects, whether that be physically, neurologically or psychologically. Additionally, the knowledge gained from working in a fast-paced environment with multiple practitioners daily has allowed Becky to immerse herself in a complex MDT, ensuring patients receive the best holistic care. Being in an advanced MDT has enabled Becky to gain more knowledge on her communication and gain more insight into different ways and styles of communication in hospital settings, such as referral making, phone calls and handovers in different formats. Becky has sought opportunities to work with any specialist staff in order to better understand their role and impact on patient care.

Skills

Multiple skills have been gained during Becky’s time on placement. These include – bladder scans, ECGs, basic observations, blood sugars, and medication rounds, using nebuliser machines and looking after VRIIs safely. Moreover, skills on venepuncture have improved and been enhanced, as well as now looking after patients on CIWA charts when withdrawing from alcohol, assessing signs of ETOH withdrawal and ensuring their symptoms are managed. Her SBAR skills are continually improving, and she has been able to successfully hand over a whole bay of complex patients as well as complete online referrals for specific teams and understand the importance of getting those teams involved in the patient’s care. Additionally, basic care giving such as washing, toileting, feeding and helping patients at meal times is a skill that is done daily and is always done to a high standard, ensuring patients are cared for to the fullest. Lastly, communication skills with both patients and the MDT are always being gained, and also Becky’s confidence in her ability to provide these skills. Becky has had a habit of second-guessing her ability or decision-making, so it has been lovely to see her confidence grow throughout this placement.

Attitudes and Values

Becky has immersed herself into the AMU team and has become a trusted member during her time with us. She always brings a positive and focused energy to the shift and no task is too much. She works well within her team on shift ensuring all members are happy with roles and jobs as well as ensuring all tasks and care is completed in a timely and safe manner. Her positive energy and proactiveness has been really refreshing and lovely to work with. Becky always shows compassion and ensures that dignity is maintained as much as possible for her patients. Moreover, she aims to care for all her patients in a holistic manner. She has also been able to think critically on this placement due to the dynamic nature of it, and has also been able to improve her ability to advocate for those who cannot for themselves. Becky is also self-reflective and able to take on constructive feedback, with her main focus on improving and providing excellent care. Well done on maintaining such a professional attitude throughout this whole placement. I believe she will be a fantastic and caring nurse and will be an asset to any team she works with, as I know she will really look after her patients safely and compassionately.

Learning and Development Needs. Practice Assessor to identify specific areas to take forward to the next placement.

I would like to see Becky take on more coordination and leadership opportunities. She has taken charge of her own theatre lists in this placement, and I would like to see that expanded in the next placement.

Episodes of care

When assessing your student’s episode of care brief but constructive comments are recommended. Please do not fail an element of the EoC because that part is not available in your placement area. In this case, you should discuss the element with your student and pass or fail them based on that conversation.

Please note that clicking “No” in the EoC is a fail.

An example comment for “Promoting Health”

I have observed Becky assisting this patient previously with regards to nutritional supplements, and ensuring they were not becoming malnourished whilst unwell. She understood that nutrition also contributes to healing.