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15 DAY CORE (POCUS SKILLS) WORKOUT!

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SHRED (your doubts), SCULPT (your skills) and get on track! 

Want to integrate POCUS more into your clinical practice, but having trouble taking that next step? Use this step-by-step program to get you motivated and on track. Each day takes just 10 minutes. Adjust as needed – the key is to dedicate just a little time each day.  

Day 1: Take stock and set goals. Write down: 

  • Why do you want to do (more) POCUS? 
  • What barriers do you face to doing more POCUS? (describe concretely)  
  • Which one or two scan types will you try to master first (MSK, OB, cardiac?)  
  • What resources do you plan to use (GUSI, other?) Explore the GUSI website

Day 2: Get familiar with your ultrasound machine  

  • Look for the brand and model of your machine 
  • Spend 5 minutes watching YouTube videos about aspects of your machine 
  • Spend 5 minutes experimenting with different settings on your machine

Day 3: POCUS Basics 

  • Spend 10 minutes systematically scanning yourself or a friend: 
  • Do one type of movement at a time: slide, fan, rock, rotate. Pay attention to your probe marker and the marker on the screen. Check whether each motion produces the change on the image that you expect.  
  • See what happens when you vary the amount of pressure on the probe 
  • Practice adjusting depth, gain, zoom 
  • Check frequently that you are using enough gel, you are grasping the probe at the neck (rather than on the distal end), and you are anchoring your hand on the patient 
  • The best way to build your skills is to go slow and take time to understand what is happening as you scan

Day 4: Get familiar with a scan  

  • Spend 5 minutes watching a scan tutorial (GUSI or other) 
  • Spend 5 minutes practicing the scan on yourself or another person, using the techniques above

Day 5:  Practice uploading 

  • Scan yourself or a friend for 5 minutes using the techniques above 
  • Upload the scan to the GUSI scan review portal, if using 

Day 6: Integrate POCUS into your clinical flow 

  • Reflect and write down how you’ll integrate POCUS into your clinical flow: 
  • Will you ask your MA to room your clinic patient with a machine, bring the machine into your clinic visit, bring it with you on hospital rounds? 
  • Pre-chart if possible: which patients could use a scan or be open to one?  
  • Any remaining time: scan yourself, a friend, or a patient

Day 7: Break the ice with a patient scan:  

  • Say something like “I’m learning ultrasound and would like to scan you. This isn’t a formal diagnostic scan, but it will help me learn and will give us a chance to see some of what may be happening in your body.” (Or whatever feels natural for you). 
  • Scan the patient, using tips above! Upload to the GUSI scan review if using! 
  • Write down your findings so you can compare to formal imaging, if obtaining

Day 8: Learn how to identify answer your own questions: 

  • What questions are coming up as you scan?  
  • Look through GUSI’s website or other resources to try to answer them
  • With any remaining time, scan yourself or a friend

Day 9: Choose your own adventure!
Do one or more of the following: 

  • Watch a scan technique or troubleshooting video 
  • Practice scanning and uploading 
  • Write about where you think you are: what successes have you had?
  • What are your next challenges to tackle? 
  • Identify another barrier and how you plan to address it 

Day 10: More scanning 

  • Choose a patient with a recent or upcoming radiology ultrasound  
  • Scan the patient and upload to your portfolio 
  • See if your scan matches up with the imaging

Day 11: Practice being your own QA 

  • Being able to assess the quality of your own scans is key to mastering POCUS 
  • Scan a patient and this time, put special emphasis on QA measures 
  • Do you know the quality measures of this scan (for example, scanning through the entire gallbladder including the neck to assess for stones, etc.) 
  • Assess whether you have met quality measures 
  • Assess for: depth, zoom, gain, image clarity 
  • Would repositioning the patient have been helpful?  
  • How can you do even better next time? 

Day 12: Video day 

  • Spend 5 minutes watching a scanning technique/troubleshooting video 
  • Spend 5 minutes scanning yourself or a friend using techniques above

Day 13: Scanning 

  • Scan at least 2 patients using the techniques above  
  • Upload to GUSI portal if using

Day 14: Video day 

  • Spend 5 minutes watching a scanning technique/troubleshooting video 
  • Spend 5 minutes scanning yourself or a friend using techniques above 

Day 15: Take stock and plan the next steps.
Write down: 

  • What have you accomplished? 
  • What are your ongoing questions/ barriers? 
  • What are your next goals?  
  • How will you make sure you continue your POCUS practice long-term?  
  • GUSI online or in-person courses 
  • GUSI scan review 
  • GUSI fellowship 
  • Finding an accountability buddy or mentor at your institution 
  • Other strategy 

Congratulations! You’ve finished the 15-day program. We hope you feel great about the steps you’ve taken. Keep working to integrate POCUS into your daily routine and you’ll be surprised at how far you go! 

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