About the course

This course is aimed at registered healthcare professionals working in an acute secondary care setting. It will assist you in gaining the competences required for the assessment, care and management of the acutely ill individual. Through examining current evidence and developments in this field of care, you will have an opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiological effects of acute illness or traumatic injury.

• This course was designed and validated in conjunction with local employers and aims to develop you academically as well as clinically.
• You will be taught by experienced acute and critical care practitioners, some of whom have current and on-going clinical practice.Guest speakers with current clinical expertise will also contribute to the teaching.
• This course will develop/enhance your life-long learning and prospects of career progression.
• You will have opportunity to develop your understanding through simulation-based learning.
• Your studies will focus on developing your knowledge and applying skills with a multi-disciplinary perspective.

Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on the holistic assessment of the individual with development of subsequent management plans from which to provide optimum care.

Teaching and assessment

You will be taught through a series of lectures, tutorials, simulation-based learning and guided study, which will be supported by the University's virtual learning environment.

Assessment will include the submission of a portfolio and a simulated clinical examination. Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course. .

Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

• Be a registered healthcare professional with at least 12 months post registration employment.
• Be experience working within an acute healthcare setting.
• Have either an Honours degree, have studied at Honours level or can demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills at Honours degree standard.

If you are not registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and if your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.