Recognising and Responding to Client Deterioration

The module is part of Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Acute Medicine) but will not be offered as Professional Credit Award in academic year 2024-2025.

This module aims to provide graduate nurses with the specialised knowledge and skills to assess, prioritise, respond to and manage challenging acute care episodes. Supporting students to broaden and deepen their knowledge and skills has the potential to enable them to identify client deterioration more quickly and minimise avoidable emergencies.

Module Content

The module content will focus on holistic and systematic client observations, recognising signs and symptoms of deterioration, prioritising care and effective intervention.  The module will specifically address the management of the client with: acute respiratory failure, cardiac arrhythmia, hypotension, bradycardia or tachycardia, infection, shock and altered consciousness including emerging problems like Covid19. It also has an introduction to Non Invasive Ventilator (NIV) support for patients in the generalist ward (specifically CPAP and BiPAP), monitoring and interpreting vital signs (integrating the National Early Warning Score).

This module will focus on managing distressing symptoms in the acutely ill client, specifically addressing holistic pain assessment and management.  There will be a focus on the acquisition of key technical and clinical skills that nurse managers/key stakeholders identify as being essential for responsive care in specialist settings and may vary from year-to-year.  The core skills identified will be taught across the group.  Examples may include managing tracheostomy obstruction, electronic medication management, recording an ECG, basic rhythm interpretation and recognition of ECG abnormalities.

Target Market
Registered general nurses working in primary acute care settings.

Prerequisite
Students must have a letter from the Director of Nursing stating that they will be supported during the module.