Do you have a praise worthy ECT student nurse training package? Such as evidence based handouts, powerpoint presentation, aims and objectives, competency assessments, planned spoke placements for students. If yes, would you be willing to share them via NALNECT. Please send your details and confirmation of your wish to share your documents, via the Contact us page of this site. The NALNECT committee plan to work on the development of a best practice ECT student nurse package, then disseminate.

NALNECT recognises that the training of student nurses, regarding ECT, is an important role for lead ECT nurses and in turn it will improve the attitude to ECT of our future qualified nurses.

The NALNECT committee with the assistance of ECTAS are planning to organise a third national ECT nurse conference. It will be on Wednesday 15th September 2010 at the Birmingham Council House. Building on the previous 2 conferences, it is hoped it will be an even bigger, better and more varied event this time. Further details will be provided at the National ECT Nurse training days this year. It is expected that applications for places will be available later this year.

In December 2008 ECTAS published their revised standards for the administration of ECT. A full version is available to download via the ECTAS link.

New standards:

There are systems in place to ensure that staffing of the clinic is sufficient when members of the team are absent for planned or unplanned periods.

Lead nurse has been assessed as competent to carry out the role. The ECT lead nurse attends the Royal College of Psychiatrists 3 day course for nurses in ECT.

Patients are advised about any additional driving risk from either their illness or treatment.

The clinic has the capability to give both unilateral and bilateral ECT. (Level 1 standard)

Patients in recovery are asked about any side effects such as headache and nausea, & the necessary prophylactic given in subsequent treatments. This is documented.

Revised standards: 

There is one life support provider trained to at least immediate level during the treatment session. This should be in addition to the anaesthetist.

The consultant is responsible for developing protocols for the prescription of ECT by his or her peers in order to update their prescribing practice.

There are evidence based care pathways for both pre-ECT treatment and post-ECT treatment.

The Dantec Dynamics price for the Thymatron will be increasing after 31st of March 2009 to £14,500 plus vat and from 1/1/09 the price for Ectobrain II will be £1,322 plus vat. They currently have 2 Ectobrain II units at the old price of £850 plus vat. So first come first served. So, the price for Thymatron IV will be held at £13,060 plus vat until the end of March and no further. The combination of a price increase from the manufacturer and the exchange rate has meant they have had to increase the price for the first time in 2 years. They also have an Exdemonstration system for sale at a 20% discount on the £13,060 plus vat price. (£10448 plus vat).