Target Audience
Clinical Physiologists/Clinical Scientists and other healthcare professionals undertaking the performance and interpretation of blood gases as either as a standalone service or as part of a Home Oxygen Team or NIV Service Speciality Trainee medical professionals.
Aim
To provide healthcare professionals with:
- The underpinning knowledge and practical skills to safely develop competence in arterial and arterialised capillary blood gas sampling.
- A framework to accurately interpret blood gas values.
- The theoretical background and practical application of blood gas values in the clinical context.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the first day, delegates will be able to:
- Identify suitable and unsuitable sites for blood gas sampling.
- Understand the advantages and disadvantages of arterial and arterialised blood gas sampling.
- Correctly perform and be aware of dangers and complications of blood gas sampling.
- Demonstrate an understanding of their legal and professional responsibilities with respect to blood gas sampling.
- Understand how to work towards competence using an appropriate skills logbook.
By the end of Day two, delegates will be able to:
- Identify the key differences between arterial and arterialised blood gas sampling and the clinical relevance of these differences.
- Understand the indices obtained from a blood gas sample, be aware of additional clinically useful equations and be able to identify respiratory failure (Type 1 and Type 2).
- Interpret blood gas values in the context of the clinical information available using a 5-step approach.
- Describe respiratory and non-respiratory causes of altered blood gases.
- Analyse blood gas results and suggest appropriate management strategies within scope of practice.
- Consider blood gas results in the context of the provision of long-term oxygen therapy.
The last course was held on the 13th and 14th November 2025 in Birmingham.
If you are interested hearing about the next Blood Gas Sampling & Interpretation Course, please complete the waiting list form here.