module specification

The focus in this practice module is on the acute care of people. Acute care generally takes place within a hospital setting and can include people who have significant care needs in surgical or medical specialties, or those in mental health crisis. The module focuses on early detection and management of acute deterioration in patients with respiratory, cardiac, neurological or renal insufficiencies.

In the module students will explore care needs in a range of acute patient care settings including medical, surgical, critical care and critical mental health care. Students will consider the disease process in commonly encountered conditions, alongside complications that may arise such as sepsis, and the requirements for surgical intervention where necessary. Relevant anatomy and physiology will be taught to underpin experiential knowledge.

Drawing upon the understanding of regulating homeostasis gained in year one and understanding of vital signs and their assessment, students will work through person-centred scenarios such as the pre-operative assessment of the patient for surgery, care of the deteriorating patient, and scenarios requiring application of basic life support. Students will be prepared for experiencing such patient care requirements through your simulated practice placements.

The module prepares students for placements in more challenging health care environments by promoting the planning, implementation and evaluation of the care provided. Students will draw upon examples of care delivered or observed in clinical and simulated practice placements and reflect on the quality of care and its outcomes, as well as debriefing from complex cases.

Completion of all year 1 modules.

The module will include an introduction to person-centred care in hospital settings, focusing on the patient with acute care needs (NMC LO 3.4).

This will include the Principles of surgery and post-surgical care as well as care of the person with acute medical health care needs. Students will be introduced to commonly encountered conditions, and treatment approaches (NMC 3.2; NMC LO 3.4; NMC LO4.4). 

Students will be introduced to the NEWS2 assessment and scoring system the early detection of deteriorating health (NMC LO 6.5).

Students will be guided in the implementation of urgent care pathways such as in sepsis management or life-support, drawing upon the signs and symptoms of physical deterioration in body (NMC LO 4.7).

The module will discuss the role of the nurse in medical emergencies and highlight the role of the acute care nurse in adult and mental health settings, and explore how debriefing aids team learning (NMC LO 5.10).

Practical instruction, lectures, interactive physiology and anatomy scenarios, immersive virtual reality simulation, small group sessions, self-directed learning using WebLearn VLE.

On completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Recognise signs and symptoms of clinical deterioration or distress in mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural health and use this knowledge to make sound clinical decisions and categorise according to the Nursing Early Warning Scale (NEWS).

2. Select and apply appropriate routine investigations, interpreting and sharing findings as appropriate.

3. Apply an understanding of physical and psychological mechanisms causing deterioration in condition, to initiate appropriate interventions supporting people with commonly encountered symptoms including anxiety, confusion, discomfort and pain.

4. Safely and effectively manage the nursing care of the physically acute patient demonstrating appropriate prioritisation, delegation and assignment of care responsibilities to other members of the multi-disciplinary team involved in providing care.

5. Accurately undertake risk assessments in a range of care settings, using a range of contemporary assessment and improvement tools.

6. Organise and communicate information using a range of relevant criteria, to a variety of audiences in contexts of varying complexity, taking into consideration ethical requirements for professional nursing practice.

Available at: https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/38713290-94E2-DE2A-6E21-338F54C3E1D8.html?lang=en