This module can contribute to the following programmes
Intake Dates
Start Date
04 Oct 2024 (Intake Closed)
Apply by: 20 Sep 2024
Details
Attendance
04 Oct 2024 (On Campus), 11 Oct 2024 (On Campus), 18 Oct 2024 (On Campus), 25 Oct 2024 (Online), 01 Nov 2024 (Online), 08 Nov 2024 (On Campus), 15 Nov 2024 (Online), 22 Nov 2024 (Online), 29 Nov 2024 (On Campus), 06 Dec 2024 (Skills day)
Start Date
25 Apr 2025 (Available)
Apply by: 11 Apr 2025
Details
Attendance
25 Apr 2025 (On Campus), 02 May 2025 (On Campus), 09 May 2025 (On Campus), 16 May 2025 (Online), 23 May 2025 (Online), 30 May 2025 (On Campus), 06 Jun 2025 (Online), 13 Jun 2025 (Online), 20 Jun 2025 (On Campus), 27 Jun 2025 (Skills day)
Start Date
17 Jan 2025 (Available)
Apply by: 03 Jan 2025
Details
Attendance
17 Jan 2025 (On Campus), 24 Jan 2025 (On Campus), 31 Jan 2025 (On Campus), 07 Feb 2025 (Online), 14 Feb 2025 (Online), 21 Feb 2025 (On Campus), 28 Feb 2025 (Online), 07 Mar 2025 (Online), 14 Mar 2025 (On Campus), 21 Mar 2025 (Skills day)
Course details
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 practitioners who wish to develop their knowledge and skills in caring for acutely ill patients. Using a flexible, technology enhanced approach, this core module will enable the practitioner to deliver high quality, evidence-based care which focuses on the timely recognition, effective assessment, and appropriate management of this challenging patient group.
Aims
The module will enable practitioners to develop confidence and competence in the prioritised assessment and management of an acutely unwell adult 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:
Identification of the acutely unwell patient
• Identification of ‘at risk’ patients
• Principles of assessment and the ABCDE approach
• Early warning scoring systems
• Establishing priorities and identifying appropriate interventions
• Transfer of the acutely unwell patient.
The dyspnoeic patient
• Respiratory assessment
• Oxygen therapy
• Arterial blood gas analysis.
Cardiovascular dysfunction
• Haemodynamic assessment and monitoring
• Shock
• Sepsis.
The cardiac patient
• Monitoring and arrhythmias
• Introduction to 12 lead ECG interpretation
• Acute coronary syndromes.
Patients with acute abdominal dysfunction
• Acute abdomen
• GI bleeding
• Hepatic failure
• Nutritional assessment.
Acute kidney injury
• Classification of acute kidney injury
• Fluid and electrolyte management
• Interpretation of blood results.
Diabetic emergencies
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• HHS
• Hypoglycaemia.
Impaired consciousness and acute pain
• Neurological assessment
• Management of the patient with impaired conscious level
• Assessment and management of the patient in acute pain.
Ethics and bereavement
• Death and bereavement
• Support of relatives
• Ethical issues in acutely unwell patients.
Academic practice
• Database searching
• Referencing and avoiding plagiarism
• Critical Thinking Skills Toolkit.
Course length: 10 Teaching Day
Assessment
Case study (4000 words) and Competency assessment document
Learning outcomes
Demonstrate critical awareness of the specialist knowledge, skills and approaches required to provide a comprehensive assessment of the acutely unwell adult.
Critically evaluate clinical assessment findings with reference to the underlying pathophysiology and using relevant comparisons for age, gender, co-morbidities, and normal values.
Review and justify a range of appropriate data sources to identify the acutely unwell adult, including consideration of limitations of approaches used.
Prioritise, implement and critically appraise a range of appropriate evidence and research-based interventions and their effectiveness for the acutely unwell adult.
Work effectively and proactively in multidisciplinary teams in a range of different healthcare settings to resolve potential conflicts and negotiate solutions within the context of acutely unwell patients.
Apply deep and systematic appraisal of the wider ethico-legal, professional and economic implications of caring for acutely unwell patients.
Course Information
Administrator
Course Leader
Telephone
Course delivery
Kingston WFD Admissions Team
Anjela Billat
Blended Learning. On-Campus sessions subject to change. If government advice changes, we may need to update our plans. If we do so, we will update this information, and will keep current students and offer holders informed by email.
Downloads
Course pre-requisites
Programme Entry Requirements
Co-requisites: Participants must be working in an appropriate clinical area, caring for patients who are already, or are at risk of becoming acutely ill.
Fees
£2,299.00
Self-funding students will need to make a one-off payment for the module via our secure payment portal before the online enrolment process.