This is an option module within the MSc Healthcare Practice programme. It may also be taken as a free-standing module. The module is suitable for nurses and other registered healthcare professionals directly involved in the emergency care of polytrauma patients. A range of traumatic injuries will be explored but the focus will be upon initial assessment and management of these patients in the context of the emergency department. The module learning outcomes, indicative content and assessment strategy are aligned to the National Major Trauma Nursing Group (NMTNG) National Curriculum and Competency Framework (NMTNG 2016)i and The National Service Specification for Major Trauma D15/S/a (NHS England 2013)ii

 

Aims

The module will enhance participants’ core knowledge and skills relating to the assessment, initial management and care of the polytrauma patient.

 

What and how you will learn on this module 

 

How you will learn:

This module is delivered using a blended learning approach which integrates a variety of on-campus and online activities, supported by Canvas, the University’s virtual learning environment. A complementary range of activities are employed to engage you in the critical exploration of key topic areas, and the completion of formative tasks during the module also helps to keep you on track with the learning and gain feedback on your understanding of the content. A sense of community is developed and maintained with frequent opportunities for peer learning, enabling you to share your practice experiences and to learn from each other. Level 6 and level 7 students taking this module may be taught together.

Academic writing and critical thinking skills are developed through ‘The Critical Thinking Skills Toolkit’ and other academic practice activities embedded within the module, that have been designed to nurture the skills needed to facilitate you to become a thoughtful, objective and reasoned thinker. This will help you tackle the assignment(s) confidently, understand marking criteria, use evidence, take a reasoned approach, make structured arguments and engage with other points of view. 

 

What you will learn:

Epidemiology of trauma

• Global perspective of polytrauma

• Financial implications of polytrauma

• Classification of polytrauma.

 

Trauma teams

• Criteria for initiating the trauma team

• Nursing role in trauma teams

• Human factors.

 

Trauma protocol

• Primary and secondary survey - <C>ABCDE approach

• Military and pre-hospital perspective.

 

Managing the trauma patient

• Initial assessment strategies

• Management of common life-threatening injuries

• Legal and ethical aspects of trauma care.

 

Management of specific injuries

• Airway problems

• Tension pneumothorax

• Open pneumothorax

• Massive haemothorax

• Flail chest

• Cardiac tamponade

• Head and spinal injuries

• Injuries in children

• Special circumstances - Injuries in older people and pregnancy.

 

Academic practice

• Database searching

• Referencing and avoiding plagiarism

• Critical Thinking Skills Toolkit.

 

Course length: 5 Teaching Days

 

Assessment

Case review (3000 words) and Moulage