Learning date: 2/10/24

Learning activity:

The structure and the function of the blood

cardiovascular system.

Practical session

We looked at the structure and the function of the blood. Blood is one of the most important elements in our body. Blood is fluid connective tissues with critical structures and functions that are essential for sustaining life. blood consist of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cell and palate.

Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood and makes up 55% of the blood volume. The plasma itself is 90% is a water and 10% are proteins (such as albumin, globulin and fibrinogen), carbohydrates, lipids, electrolytes (such as sodium, potassium and calcium), nutrients (like amino acids and glucose), hormones (which have unique functions and roles in the body), and waste products from cell metabolism and our diet (such as urine and creatinine).

Red blood cells (Erythrocytes) are the most abundant cell in our blood and make up 90% of the cells. These cells lack nucleus and have a biconcave shape. The red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein which binds oxygen and carbon dioxide. The biconcave shape enables the red blood cells to increase their surface are for gas exchange.

White blood cells (Leukocytes) are the largest of the blood cells and are present in the lowest numbers. There are serval types of white blood cells such as lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils, each one has a specific role in immune response. They are produced in the bone marrow from the hematopoietic stem cells.  white blood cells are part of the immune system and enable the body to defend against infections and foreign substance.

Platelets (thrombocytes) are the smallest of the blood cells. They are formed in the bone marrow in the stem cells and have life span around 8-12 day. They play an important role in blood clotting. They aggregate at sites of injury to form clots and prevent excessive bleeding.

We also looked at the cardiovascular system. The cardiovascular system plays crucial role for human survival. It ensures that the body tissues receive all the essential nutrients and oxygen as well as removing metabolic waste products such as carbon dioxide from the body. It also plays essential role in maintaining homeostasis.

cardiovascular system consists of heart, blood and blood vessels. The heart is muscular organ and has four chambers: the right atrium, right ventricle, the right ventricle and left ventricle.

The key function of the heart is to act as pump to circulated blood to all systemic organs by contracting and relaxing in a regular repeated cycle. When the heart is contracting is call systolic and when it is relaxing is called diastolic. The right side of the heart receives deoxygenated blood from the blood and pump into the lung for oxygenation and the left side of the heart receives oxygenated blood from lungs and distribute it to the rest of the body.

The blood vessels contain arteries, veins and capillaries. The arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the tissues whereas the veins return deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Capillaries are where gas exchange take place between the blood and tissues.

We also had manual handling training in the assimilated clinical skills lab and leant different techniques such as how to lift, transfer, and reposition of individual safely by using prover body mechanics and appropriate equipment such as hoist and slings and sliding sheet. Also, it was reiterated the importance of, teamwork, effective communication, and confidentiality as well as maintaining dignity and privacy.

We also learnt how to carry out dynamic risk assessment that includes assessing the needs and the capabilities of the individual being assisted as well as the number of staff required to perform the task safely, using appropriate equipment and the environment.

Everything that I learnt today is very important to me as a nursing associate. Understanding the key structure and the function of the blood and cardiovascular system will enable me to assess patient properly and identify both normal and abnormal findings so that I can provide safe and high quality care to the patients.

Also, the manual handling practical session we had today was very useful as it reinforced my learning and enhanced my confident to apply these techniques real life scenario. Overall, this training will help me to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to safely assist individuals with mobility challenges.

KSB Addressed:

K5: Understand the meaning of resilience and emotional intelligence, and their influence on an individual’s ability to provide care

K15: Understand human development from conception to death, to enable delivery of person-centred safe and effective care

K16: Understand body systems and homeostasis, human anatomy and physiology, biology, genomics, pharmacology, social and behavioural sciences as applied to delivery of care

K18: Understand and apply the principles and processes for making reasonable adjustments

K19: Know how and when to escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice

K20: Know how people’s needs for safety, dignity, privacy, comfort and sleep can be met

K23: Know how to meet people’s needs related to mobility, hygiene, oral care, wound care and skin integrity

K43: Understand the influence of policy and political drivers that impact health and care provision Skills

S33: Maintain safe work and care environments