Overview

In response to the on-going development of advanced clinical roles for a variety of health care professionals and the availability of MSc courses accompanied with complex clinical competencies, this module will enable practitioners to request, interpret and report chest X-rays and will support the advancement of skills to support advanced practice.

This course will provide health practitioners with the necessary skills and knowledge to competently request, holistically assess, interpret and report plain adult chest X-rays and triage cases to involve the wider multidisciplinary team. Module content will include the identification of normal and abnormal pathology and will facilitate the student with the skills to accurately and succinctly report their findings and make recommendations where appropriate for management in both outpatient and acute clinical settings. Practitioners will understand the importance of working within a robust clinical governance framework.

The use of blended learning will be adopted which utilises focused lectures, skills teaching and practice, workshops, online learning along with clinical practice experience. This multifaceted approach will provide the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills that underpin the assessment and management of patients requiring chest X-ray.

This module aims to increase both depth and breadth of the student's ability to manage pro-actively acute respiratory deterioration and the complications of critical illness. This is done through learning activities based around the development of advanced problem solving skills in the assessment and management of respiratory problems. This will be facilitated by workshops in the use of mechanical support, case based learning in small groups and an emphasis on wider reading of the literature to support choices.

Module aims

This module will equip students to accurately and effectively undertake the request, interpretation and comprehensive reporting of an adult patient's plain chest X-ray (CXR).

Entry requirements

• All candidates will have a Nurse or AHP qualification, current registration with the GMC, NMC or HCPC.
• All candidates will need to provide an employment reference.
• All candidates will be employed in a role where the assessment, interpretation and reporting of X-rays is integral.
• Candidates will normally have either a degree (at least second class honours) or an equivalent professional qualification such as a postgraduate diploma, and appropriate clinical experience.

Module content

This module will include the following elements of knowledge and skills acquisition in relation to the assessment, interpretation and reporting of plain adult chest X-rays.

• the definition and understanding of related anatomical terms and practical anatomy and physiology of the thorax including pulmonary and cardiac pathology
• the principles, theories and models of clinical history taking, managing the consultation and comprehensive patient assessment
• the acquisition of the principles and procedure of clinical examination of the plain adult chest X-ray
• an understanding of clinical governance, quality assurance methods and policies and procedures in relation to this advanced skill
• the development of the skill to formulate a comprehensive report on the CXR findings, including further tests and referrals that may be necessary

In addition to taught content, a period of clinical experience will be undertaken shadowing experienced senior clinicians.

Teaching and assessment

The principal learning and teaching methods used in the module may include:

• Lectures, seminars and workshops: The core of each module delivery mode is a series of face to face tutor-led or group-led seminars or workshops.
• Web-based learning using the Keele Learning Environment (KLE), Blackboard. 
• Group work and peer support. All modules use focused group work and class discussions within face to face tutor time.
• Directed independent study. Most of the study hours for each module comprise independent learning by expecting participants to add depth and breadth to their knowledge of topics, to practice skills and to reflect on critical incidents and their practice.