School of Nursing and Midwifery

This module is designed to meet the needs of those clinicians who work with acutely ill adults and wish to enhance and develop their high dependency care knowledge and skills. Written to incorporate best practice guidelines and recommendations, the module will develop the ability of the clinician to adopt a critical, analytical approach to the delivery of responsive, evidence-based care to those requiring high dependency care.
The module is appropriate for a wide range of clinicians who come into contact with individuals with high dependency care needs, across a variety of settings (i.e. primary and secondary care, third sector provision, specialist High Dependency Units and other acute care settings). This module forms part of the Graduate Certificate (High Dependency Care), where the outcomes are achieved by initial completion of the Primary Responses to Acute Care module and subsequent simultaneous undertaking of the High Dependency Care and Clinical Practice modules, where the practitioner has the opportunity to complete all of the given outcomes in their own clinical setting, guided by a focused and specific clinical competency framework. The final module within the Graduate Certificate (High Dependency Care) is the Evidence Based Practice module, which facilitates the application of theory to the practitioners own practice area.

This module is a core module for the BSc (Hons) Clinical Practice (High Dependency Care) Pathway.
This module may be undertaken as a stand alone elective module within the BSc (Hons) award for other pathways.

This module aims to develop clinicians who can recognise and respond appropriately to acutely ill patients who have high dependency needs, and / or whose condition may deteriorate. To develop a critical, analytical clinician who has enhanced knowledge and skills relating to the decision-making and delivery of evidence-based high dependency care to acutely ill patients

Professional registration with an appropriate body.
Minimum of 6 months recent experience working in a care setting appropriate to the module.

The module will utilise blended learning methods including a range of KLE-based activities; such as, KLE-based physiology workbooks and a range of other useful learning materials and activities.

The context and principles of high-dependency care and identification of level of care required.

The evidence base and current research supporting the management of patients requiring high dependency care.

Assessment tools (such as Modified Early Warning Track and Trigger systems / MEWS) and observations in response to the care of patients with high dependency care needs; to include accurate monitoring, use of technologies, interpretation of, and response to data obtained (such as, arterial blood gas analysis).

Physiological observations and indicators of illness in the high dependency patient.

Clinical decision-making and prioritising care of patients who require high dependency care.

Safe and effective referral to the multi-disciplinary team and appropriate care-planning.

Holistic care-planning and care delivery for the high dependency patient; to include identification and assessment of physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs and use of appropriate interventions.

Cultural competence and inclusivity; care of marginalised groups, inequalities in health.

Pathophysiology and appropriate care management related to patients with high dependency needs presenting with a range of acute conditions / disorders; to include:
* acute and acute-on-chronic respiratory
* cardiovascular
* types and stages of shock; to include SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), sepsis and other infections
* renal
* neurological
* gastro-intestinal and hepatic
* haematological
* endocrine / diabetic
* orthopaedic / trauma
* immunological crises
* acute pain states / presentation
* acute-on-chronic illness presentation

Therapeutic interventions and supportive management of the patient with high dependency care needs using enhanced skills and supportive technology (such as, Continuous Positive Airways Pressure / CPAP, 12 lead ECG interpretation, central venous pressure and arterial line monitoring).

Principles of pharmacology and use of drugs commonly used in the care of acutely ill patients; to include analgesics, antibiotic therapy, inotropic and vasopressor drugs, intravenous fluids / colloids and others.

Legal and ethical considerations in documentation and handling of patient information.

Ethical, legal, and professional issues relating to the care of high dependency patients.

Caring for relatives and significant others; involvement in decision-making and care-planning.

Contemporary issues and other key priorities influencing the care of high dependency patients from a local, national and international perspective; to include future acute care developments and strategies, critical care networks, care bundles, infection control issues, workforce issues, patient pathways in acute care, future role development.