Program Overview

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Course overview

Develop the key skills and knowledge required to assess, care for and manage critically ill adults. Adopting an evidence-based approach, underpinned by simulated activities and work-based learning, you’ll discover how to deliver effective critical care and therapeutic interventions and demonstrate the core competencies applicable to health professionals working in critical care units.

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Introduction

Advances in critical care medicine have resulted in seriously ill patients becoming increasingly complex to care for. This has resulted in the need for critical care staff to have a variety of specialised skills, in-depth knowledge and competencies.

This Postgraduate Certificate, informed by the UK standards and recommendations introduced by the Critical Care National Network Nurse Leads, will equip you with the expertise needed to care for critically ill patients independently.

If you’re already working in a critical care setting in the UK, we’ll guide you through every aspect of the assessment, care and management of critically ill patients. This will include developing your skills in advanced clinical reasoning, critical decision making, problem-solving and communication.

The course includes extensive simulation activities and work-based learning to give you practical experience in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating therapeutic interventions.

There is a flexible approach to programme delivery, with weekly lectures delivered on-campus and online, so you can choose to attend in-person or remotely as preferred.

The course is based in the School of Health Sciences. You’ll be learning from a multi-professional team of staff who have strong research profiles and are passionate about the improvement of healthcare and service delivery.

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Who is this course for?

The programme is suitable for health care professionals who are currently working in, or have responsibility for a patient case load in, a critical care unit in the UK.

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What you'll learn

Enhanced skills and knowledge in the assessment and care of critically ill adults

How to conduct a competent assessment of an acutely or critically ill patient

How to manage a critically ill patient and ensure care is tailored to their specific needs

How to apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathopsychology to caring for seriously ill patients

The Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure (ABCDE) approach to the assessment and treatment of critically ill patients

How to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions

Decision-making, clinical judgement and problem-solving skills

Leadership, management and teamwork skills

How to adopt an evidence-based approach to critical care

Legal and ethical aspects of critical care