Program Overview

Post Anaesthetic and Acute Care

Overview

As a healthcare professional, you need to be able to deliver safe standards of care during critical phases throughout the patient care pathway. The aim of this module is for you to work in acute areas and the post-anaesthetic care area.

Full Description

You'll be involved in the assessment, current evidence-based care planning, implementation and evaluation of care for a wide range of patients. You'll develop specialist knowledge and skills for use in these areas by identifying altered physiology following surgical intervention and clinical emergencies. You'll also assess levels of consciousness and pain, and identify and respond to clinical emergencies and post-anaesthetic complications.

Our module provides relevant theoretical input to help you achieve a thorough understanding of the management of the post-anaesthetic patient. You are expected to act as an advocate for patients within the area, to ensure a patient orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant national and local guidelines.

Why Study This Course

You'll focus strongly on understanding the rationale behind post-operative and acute patient care management, and on evaluating and developing clinical practice. You'll develop your innovation, research and creativity to improve your own service delivery and be able to contribute to the emerging body of underpinning evidence in professional practice.

You'll learn to act as advocate for patients in your clinical area, to ensure a patient-orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant national and local guidelines.

As part of your course you'll gain specialist vocational qualification including Immediate Life Support (ILS). This professional qualification is accredited by the Resuscitation Council (UK).

Outline Content

• Patient assessment (A to E approach)
• Altered anatomy and physiology
• Arterial blood gas analysis
• Intermediate life support (ILS)
• Shock
• Basic cardiac rhythm recognition
• Pain and pain scoring
• Discharge criteria and managing patient transfers
• Airway management
• Fluid and electrolyte balance
• Pharmacology and drug administration
• Homeostasis
• Communication
• Multi-professional team working

Assessment

You’ll be assessed in two ways:

• A 2000-word written assignment on the care of a patient in the post-anaesthesia department
• Completion of clinical competencies in practice

Who Should Attend

This course offers a unique mix of practical and academic study. It’s an ideal progression route whether you’re a qualified operating department practitioner (ODP) or nurse working in perioperative care and critical care areas.

Dates

Please note: timetables are still to be confirmed, dates may be subject to change.

Cambridge

• Face to face:
  • 13 May 2025
  • 27 May
  • 10 June
  • 1 July
  • 15 July
  • 22 July
• Online:
  • 20 May 2025
  • 3 June
  • 17 June
  • 24 June
  • 8 July
  • 29 July

Chelmsford

• Face to face:
  • 15 May 2025
  • 29 May
  • 12 June
  • 3 July
  • 17 July
  • 24 July
• Online:
  • 22 May 2025
  • 5 June
  • 19 June
  • 26 June
  • 10 July
  • 31 July

Where You'll Study

Your Faculty

The Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care at ARU is primed to meet the demand for healthcare professionals, doctors, scientists and social workers in the East of England.

We've been training undergraduates for professional roles for over 25 years, with a reputation for quality, dedication and ambition balanced with student satisfaction.

We know that our students want the very best experiential learning, and we've invested heavily in purpose-built simulated wards, science labs and skills spaces, to support your learning every step of the way.

Where Can I Study?

• Chelmsford: Our striking, modern campus sits by the riverside in Chelmsford's University and Innovation Quarter.
• Cambridge: Our campus is close to the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.

Fees & Funding

Course Fees

• 30 Credits (Level 6) for courses starting in 2024/25: £2,312.50
• 30 credits (Level 6) for courses starting in 2025/26: £2,312.50

Funding for CPD

Please ask your manager or Education Lead about available funding before you apply.

Entry Requirements

If you wish to be considered for this module, you’ll have the appropriate professional qualifications or experience in a related field.

Suggested Courses That May Interest You

• General Gardening Day
• School Med Sim Course
• The Novice Introduction to Anaesthesia Programme