This is an option module within the MSc Healthcare Practice programme and the PGDip/MSc Advanced Clinical Practice programme . It may also be taken as a free-standing module.  It may also be taken as a free-standing module. The module is suitable for experienced adult critical care nurses and other healthcare practitioners involved in the care of polytrauma patients during their critical care phase. The module learning outcomes are mapped to the National Major Trauma Nursing Group (2017) National Competency Framework for Adult Critical Care Nurses: Trauma, Version 1.

Aims

The module will enable students to explore in depth the principles and practice of polytrauma patient care following the primary survey and admission to critical care.

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:

Background to polytrauma Services & development of trauma centers

• Epidemiology & Mechanism of injury

• Policies and politics in trauma care (legal, forensic, police, trauma teams)

• Issues related to transferring polytrauma patient

• Primary, secondary & tertiary surveys.

Airway, Breathing, Circulation & life-threatening conditions

• Airway challenges in intensive care

• Cardiovascular / Thoracic injuries

• Massive haemorrhage & management of bleeding.

Neurological conditions

• Traumatic Brain Injury

• Spinal Cord Injury

• Neurogenic and spinal shock

• Pain in polytrauma patients.

Specific care and management of polytrauma patients requiring

• Maxillofacial & Plastic reconstruction

• Musculoskeletal Injury (including fixation & traction, rhabdomyolysis)

• Abdominal compartment syndrome and abdominal complications

• Pelvic Injuries

• Management of Hyper and Hypo pyrexia

• Complex wound management (including musculocutaneous & fasciocutaneous flaps, road rash).

Patients with additional needs

• Pregnancy

• Obesity

• Burns

• Alcohol and drug dependency.

Additional Aspects

• Death from Trauma (including sudden death of ‘other’ involved in trauma)

• Impact of trauma on patient and family (including distance from home & family, psychological care)

• Rehabilitation for trauma patients.

• Future development of trauma services.

Academic practice

• Database searching

• Referencing and avoiding plagiarism

• Critical Thinking Skills Toolkit.

Course length: 5 Teaching Days

Assessment

Case Review (3000 words) and Competency assessment document