School of Nursing and Midwifery

The 45 credit Practice Focused Neonatal Intensive care module is designed for registered nurses working in a Neonatal unit who wish to develop their intensive care skills. The module will enable the student to understand why neonates may require intensive care and help to develop problem solving skills in the management of sick infants. The module takes a blended learning approach and competence is assessed in the clinical practice area. The module will help to demonstrate proficiency with the technology required to maintain the optimal physical condition of the neonate. Central to the ethos of the course is that the needs of the family are considered as part of the management of the neonatal intensive care environment. All candidates are offered the opportunity to become NLS providers as an integral component of the course.

This module is available as a free standing module.

To develop specific knowledge within neonatal intensive care. To utilize critical problem solving skills and reflective practice to deliver safe and effective evidence based care to meet the complex and varied physiological, social and emotional needs of individual infants and their families

On part 1 and/or 2 of the NMC professional register

Must be working in a Neonatal unit

Evidence of Level 2 academic work or equivalent

Neonatal Nursing & Health:

Epidemiology / statistics

Demography

 

Nursing & Applied Human Biology:

Applied physiology: Fetal development, Respiratory, Cardiac, Renal, Thermo-regulation, Metabolic, Haematology, Sepsis, Skin, Neurology

 

Neonatal Nursing & Policy:

NMC professional requirements (legislation)

Governance issues

Policy related to Neonatal Nursing and Client Care: National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, National Audit Office

Neonatal networks

Learning from clinical incidents

Children’s National Service Framework

Role of BLISS

 

Neonatal Nursing Care:

Effects of type of delivery

Characteristics and complications of pre-term and sick infants

Assessment frameworks

Care planning

Referrals, resources and the discharge planning process

Safe transportation

Teaching parents

Family centred care

Nursing care of babies with a focus on:

Ventilation

Jaundice

Fluid balance

Thermoregulation

Nutrition

Pain and sedation

Preparation for surgery

Interpretation of investigations (acid base balance)

 

 

Safe Medicine Administration:

Legislation and organisational policies on the safe administration of medicines

Common medications used in a neonatal intensive care setting

Safe and effective administration of medicines - reflection on current practice

Adverse drug reactions and reporting mechanisms

Safe medicine calculation

 

Research:

Application of frameworks for critiquing evidence

Introduction to clinical audit and interpreting data

Using qualitative and quantitative research to support ideas and arguments when presenting information

 

Cultural Competence:

Study skills

Oral & visual communication skills: presentation, communicating information, developing & using visual presentation aids, developing supporting paper.

Inter-professional education and learning: working with others, emergency situations, risk assessment

Moral, legal & ethical issues

Withdrawal of active treatment

End of life issues

Bereavement

Cultural issues relating to examples from practice

Communicating with families

 

Simulated Practical Skills:

NLS scenario learning opportunities

 

Reflective Practice:

Students will reflect on experiences from placements, teaching and learning activities, inter-professional learning experiences and personal / professional / academic development opportunities.

Number of assessments:

3

           

ASSESSMENT DATA (required for each assessment)	Sequence no:1
Type of assessment	Presentation and supporting paper (500 words +/- 5%)
Brief description of assessment	A 15 minute presentation critically evaluating the literature on a topic area integral to practice focused neonatal care (e.g. ventilation, nutrition, thermoregulation, jaundice, pain, infection)
Contribution to the module mark (%) (Put 0 if type is formative assessment or competency assessment)	50%
Pass mark (Put 1 if type is competency)	40%
ASSESSMENT DATA (required for each assessment)	Sequence no:2
Type of assessment	Case study
Brief description of assessment	3000 words (+/- 5%). A written case study based on an actual infant within the neonatal intensive care environment agreed by the student and his / her mentor.  Biographical patient details anonymised; reasons for accessing neonatal intensive care; full holistic assessment; demonstration of evidence-based knowledge; identified health care interventions with rationale supporting the care provided, consideration of legal and ethical issues. Demonstrate skills of critical analysis and synthesis
Contribution to the module mark (%) (Put 0 if type is formative assessment or competency assessment)	50%
Pass mark (Put 1 if type is competency)	40%
ASSESSMENT DATA (required for each assessment)	Sequence no:3
Type of assessment	Competency Assessment of Practice Document
Brief description of assessment	Satisfactory completion of the identified competencies within the assessment of practice document.  Practice agreement form at back of document signed by mentor
Contribution to the module mark (%) (Put 0 if type is formative assessment or competency assessment)	0%
Pass mark (Put 1 if type is competency)	1