Verification Of Expected Death Training

Our Registered Nurse Verification of Expected Death (RNVoED) training prepares Registered Nurses to safely, sensitively, and systematically verify expected deaths, in accordance with their professional responsibilities, local policies and clinical governance arrangements.

Guardian Angels Training provides RNVoED training covering the verification of expected death in both adults and children/young people, enabling organisations to select training appropriate to the populations and services they support.

Verification of death is an important part of high-quality end-of-life care. Registered Nurses undertaking this role must be able to recognise when verification is appropriate, complete the required clinical examination, accurately document their findings, communicate sensitively with relatives and carers, and recognise circumstances requiring further advice or escalation.

Registered Nurse Verification of Expected Death (RNVoED) is the process by which an appropriately trained and authorised Registered Nurse undertakes a structured clinical examination to establish that an expected death has occurred.

Verifying death differs from medically certifying the cause of death. Verification confirms that death has occurred; it does not determine or certify the medical cause of death.

Where death has been anticipated, appropriate planning and clear procedures help ensure the person and their family receive sensitive, timely and dignified care before and after death. Registered Nurses undertaking verification must understand the clinical procedure, their professional responsibilities, the limits of their role and the circumstances in which verification should not proceed or when further advice should be sought.

Guardian Angels Training provides RNVoED training covering the verification of expected death for both adults and children/young people. The principles of safe verification remain important across both pathways, but Registered Nurses must understand the specific policies, procedures, clinical considerations and escalation requirements relevant to the age group and service in which they work. Training can therefore be tailored for:

• Registered Nurse Verification of Expected Adult Death
• Registered Nurse Verification of Expected Child/Young Person Death
• Combined adult and child RNVoED training, where appropriate to the service and learner group

Course content can also be adapted to reflect the commissioning organisation’s own Verification of Expected Death policy and clinical governance arrangements. If you aren’t sure what your organisation requires, please get in touch.

Verifying an expected death involves considerably more than completing a physical examination. Registered Nurses undertaking RNVoED need to:

1. Establish that the circumstances are consistent with an expected death
2. Review relevant clinical documentation and care plans
3. Undertake a systematic examination for the absence of signs of life
4. Understand the specific considerations associated with adult or child death
5. Recognise circumstances in which verification should not proceed
6. Understand professional, legal and organisational responsibilities
7. Communicate sensitively with relatives, carers and colleagues
8. Respect cultural, religious and individual wishes
9. Accurately document the verification and subsequent actions
10. Identify concerns requiring escalation or referral

Effective RNVoED training therefore develops not only knowledge of how to verify an expected death, but also the professional judgement required to determine when verification is appropriate and what action should be taken when circumstances fall outside the Registered Nurse’s role or local policy.

Guardian Angels Training’s RNVoED course combines underpinning knowledge with practical application, helping Registered Nurses to develop the knowledge, confidence and clinical understanding required to undertake verification within their workplace.

The programme considers the complete verification process, from establishing whether circumstances are appropriate for RNVoED through clinical examination, communication with relatives, documentation and escalation. Training is delivered by experienced healthcare educators and can be tailored to different clinical environments, including:

• Community nursing services
• Care homes with nursing
• Hospices and palliative care services
• Hospitals and intermediate care
• Children’s and young people’s services
• Complex care services
• Other settings in which Registered Nurses may be authorised to verify an expected death

This course is specifically designed for Registered Nurses who may be required to undertake Verification of Expected Death as part of their clinical role. It is suitable for Registered Nurses working with adults, children and young people, depending upon the pathway selected and their employing organisation’s requirements.

Registered Nurses should only undertake verification if it falls within their professional scope of practice and they are appropriately trained, assessed as competent and authorised to do so under their employer’s local policy and clinical governance arrangements.

Our Registered Nurse Verification of Expected Death programme uses a blended learning approach, combining pre-course e-learning with trainer-led learning and assessment. The e-learning develops essential underpinning knowledge, allowing trainer-led learning to concentrate on clinical application, professional judgement, communication, documentation and the practical process of verification.

Where required, bespoke training can incorporate your organisation’s own adult and/or child Verification of Expected Death policy, documentation, escalation pathways, and competency requirements.

Registered Nurses complete knowledge and practical assessment activities as appropriate to the programme. Importantly, completing RNVoED training and receiving a certificate should not automatically serve as evidence of workplace clinical competence or authorisation to practise independently.

We can provide RNVoED competency assessment documentation and proformas to support workplace competency assessment following training. The employing organisation or Registered Provider should ensure that Registered Nurses are subsequently assessed and authorised in accordance with its own Verification of Expected Death policy, competency framework and clinical governance arrangements.

Where required, we can also discuss options for independent competency assessment by an appropriately qualified and experienced Registered Nurse.

Verification of Expected Death policies, eligibility criteria and governance arrangements can differ between organisations and services. Our RNVoED training can therefore be tailored to incorporate your organisation’s:

• Adult and/or child Verification of Expected Death policy
• Registered Nurse eligibility and authorisation requirements
• Clinical documentation
• Escalation and referral pathways
• Competency assessment framework
• Service-specific requirements

This helps Registered Nurses to translate their learning into safe practice within the environment in which they actually work.

If your organisation requires Registered Nurse Verification of Expected Death (RNVoED) training for adults, children and young people, Guardian Angels Training can provide training tailored to your workforce, service and clinical governance requirements.

Contact Guardian Angels Training to discuss RNVoED training, delegate numbers, adult or child requirements, preferred delivery method, and available course dates.