Advanced Assessment of the Acutely Unwell Child

Program Overview

Module - Advanced Assessment of the Acutely Unwell Child

Course Overview

This module will enable you to critically analyse, evaluate and reflect upon your ability to recognise and manage the health care needs of acutely unwell children. This module is for both adult and paediatric trained health care professionals. You will need to be treating/attending to children as part of your practice. You will need to complete an induction prior to commencement of your first module. We have a comprehensive online induction package to welcome you to both the University and your programme of study.

On this course you will...

• Critically analyse and evaluate the development of knowledge and understanding of acute presentations in paediatrics including red flag diagnoses and red flag symptoms
• Critically analyse and evaluate the health assessment of the acutely ill child at different stages of development, adapting health assessment techniques to the age of the child
• Critically evaluate appropriate early warning tools and investigations which will assist the diagnostic process
• Critically analyse, evaluate and reflect on the management of critically ill or seriously ill or emergency cases in childhood
• Critically analyse, evaluate and reflect upon the application of the knowledge and understanding gained to practice

Key Details

• Recruiting to: UK / RoI / Settled in UK
• Course Location: Online
• Institute: Institute of Health
• Delivery Style: Online
• Course Duration: Part-time: 12 weeks, Single Module
• Course Start Point: September
• Award: Module
• Open Days: All

Minimum entry requirements

• Advanced Clinical Practitioners / Clinical Nurse Specialists
• Honours degree

Course Structure

What you will learn

• Health assessment strategies, models and tools used to recognise the acutely ill child
• The ‘acute abdomen’ presentation e.g. peritonitis, intussusception, volvulus
• Neurological signs e.g. meningism, raised intracranial pressure, seizures
• Respiratory distress & Cardiovascular compromise (e.g. Asthma, bronchiolitis, congenital heart defects, endocarditis)
• ENT disorders (e.g. epiglottitis, croup)
• Burns, scalds and poisoning
• Overwhelming sepsis, trauma and accidental injury

Modules

This module will focus on developing the following knowledge and skills:

• Assessment of child health and development utilising consultation models
• Identification of serious illness and red flags
• Appropriate use and value of diagnostic tools and investigations
• Management of acute conditions including sepsis, respiratory and cardiovascular disease

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

• Health assessment strategies, models and tools used to recognise the acutely ill child
• The ‘acute abdomen’ presentation e.g. peritonitis, intussusception, volvulus
• Neurological signs e.g. meningism, raised intracranial pressure, seizures
• Respiratory distress & Cardiovascular compromise (e.g. Asthma, bronchiolitis, congenital heart defects, endocarditis)
• ENT disorders (e.g. epiglottitis, croup)
• Burns, scalds and poisoning
• Overwhelming sepsis, trauma and accidental injury

How you will be assessed

• Formative feedback is provided through individual and group work on Blackboard
• Each week/fortnight you are given both individual and group feedback on your postings by your online tutor
• Some of the work will be linked directly to the assessment item and therefore will be invaluable in allowing the development of your written assignment task

Overview

• Suitable for Advanced Clinical Practitioners / Clinical Nurse Specialists working in all areas of children's (diagnostic) care
• You must be seeing children in your clinical practice on a regular basis and have studied successfully at level 6

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2025 - 2026

• Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year
• The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy
• Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible

Funding

• The tuition fees for CPD and short courses vary based on the intensity and length of the course
• Visit our finance page for more information

More Information

• We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us
• This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000

Additional Costs

• There will be some additional costs associated with the course including stationery, textbooks, field trips and membership fees although some of these features are optional
• Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year