Apprenticeship Learning Log

 

Date of Learning:21/05/2025

Time: 9:30 – 16:30

Title of learning activity: Smoking – a public health issue.

Introduction to public health and health promotion – alcohol consumption and healthy drinking.

Safeguarding children.

Delivering care in alternative settings workshop.

 

Diary of Learning activity

(itemise learning activity and reflect on the main points of learning from each. You should identify for each entry the relevant KSB)

Reflection on Learning Activity (include model of reflection e.g. Driscoll or Gibbs):

 

The prevalence of smoking in the UK has reached a historic low. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) one of eight people in the UK smokes (11.9%) National smoking rates continue to decline.

 

Smoking has a significant and harmful impact on public health.

–  is a leading cause of preventable death.

–  it contributes to diseases such as: lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

–  long-term smoking damages every organ in the body and is associated with chronic respiratory conditions and various cancers (mouth, throat, pancreas, bladder)

–  smoking related illnesses lead to high medical expenses and place a heavy impact on healthcare systems increasing hospitalisations and long-term care.

– smoking contributes to reduced productivity due to illness, disability, and premature death, impacting the economy.

 

Public health interventions for smoking cessation involve a multi-faceted approach providing access to quit smoking services, utilising evidence-based treatments like nicotine replacement therapy and medications and implementing policies that reduce tobacco consumption.

Future public health initiatives that can enhance smoking cessation campaigns includes taxation of smoking, mass advertising campaigns in the media, peer education programs, community mobilization, motivational interviewing, health warnings on tobacco products, marketing restrictions, and banning smoking in public places.

 

Second subject on today’s session.

The implications of alcohol intake above the recommended levels of alcohol intake can have wide-ranging physical, mental, and social implications.

 

Physical Health Implications

1. Liver Damage
2. Cardiovascular Issues
3. Cancer Risk
4. Digestive Problems
5. Immune System Suppression
6. Reproductive Health

Mental and Cognitive Effects

1. Brain Function Impairment
2. Mental Health Disorders
3. Increased Risk of Dementia

Social Implication

1. Accidents and Injuries:

2. Work and Academic Issues

1. Violence and Crime:
2. Relationship Breakdown

Safe level of drinking

No more than 14 units per week, spread over 3+ days

• 1 unit = 10 mL (8g) of pure alcohol
• 14 units ≈ 6 pints of beer or 6 medium glasses of wine

To guide individuals in making healthier choices around their alcohol intake as a Nurse always start a conversation with empathy and respect, use open – ended questions, educate providing evidence-based information about the recommended unit, discuss the short- and long-term effect alcohol on health.

3^RD Subject on today’s session.

Safeguarding children L 2 refers to the actions taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. It is a legal and moral duty for anyone working with children—whether in education, healthcare, social care, or voluntary roles.

Types of Abuse

• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Other concerns (e.g., child sexual exploitation, radicalisation, online abuse)

 Recognising Signs and Symptoms

• How abuse might present (physical, behavioural, emotional indicators)
• Risk factors and vulnerabilities

4^th Subject on today’s session.

National Health Service England, workshops on delivering care in alternative settings focus on expanding healthcare beyond traditional hospital walls, utilising technologies and partnerships to improve accessibility and quality of care. These workshops aim to equip healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to implement and manage these new models of care.

KSBs addressed:

 

K36: Understand the roles of the different providers of health and care

 

S6: Act as an ambassador for their profession and promote public confidence in health and care services

S7: Communicate effectively using a range of skills and strategies with colleagues and people at all stages of life and with a range of mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural health challenges

S11: Report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes

S22: Take personal responsibility to ensure that relevant information is shared according to local policy and appropriate immediate action is taken to provide adequate safeguarding and that concerns are escalated

S34: Act in line with local and national organisational frameworks, legislation and regulations to report risks, and implement actions as instructed, following up and escalating as required

 

S35: Accurately undertake risk assessments, using contemporary assessment tools

S36: Respond to and escalate potential hazards that may affect the safety of people

S37: Participate in data collection to support audit activity, and contribute to the implementation of quality improvement strategies