Postgraduate Certificate in Critical Care

Postgraduate Certificate

PSCRCA

Taught modules

Programme Structure

This programme is designed to facilitate your development as a critical care nurse 
which will enable you to become a proficient practitioner within the specialism of critical care nursing. It will provide you with the opportunity to develop your knowledge, share experiences and learn from other practitioners. This programme has been designed to incorporate ‘The National Competency Framework for Registered Nurses in Adult Critical Care (CC3N Steps 2 &amp; 3). 
 
The Programme provides two 30-credit modules at Level 7. 
 
<ul><li>Core Concepts in Critical Care (30 credits).  </li></ul>
<ul><li>Dimensions of Critical Care (30 credits). </li></ul>
 
You are required to undertake both modules sequentially to be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Critical Care. These modules incorporate Step 2 and Step 3 competencies from the ‘National Competency Framework for Registered Nurses in Adult Critical Care’ (CC3N). 
 
These modules have been designed to further develop your essential critical care skills and enhance your theoretical knowledge to underpin your practice. The overall aim is to embed core knowledge, critical thinking and to develop you in your role as a competent critical care health professional. They address core elements of knowledge required to complete the National Steps Competency Framework (CC3N).  
 
The modules will be delivered via a blended learning approach. This approach allows you to learn in a manner that is convenient to you. with a mix of face-to-face, online synchronous (participants are engaged at the same time online), and asynchronous lectures (not in real time) and tutorials to optimise flexibility and accessibility. This approach will enable you to work around clinical commitments, family commitments and preferred styles of learning to progress on an academic pathway.

Demonstrate the ability to promote compassionate, collaborative care which is patient and family centred. 

Values and attitudes

Evaluate critically the benefits and risks of approaches taken to managing patients with multi-system failure.  

Skills

Synthesise and apply relevant literature to ascertain and predict the impact of quality and safety initiatives to improve care within an intensive care environment. 

Knowledge

Initiate and coordinate complex care requirements in patients recovering and rehabilitating from critical illness.  

Synthesise patient data to provide clear rationales for key interventions in patient care.  

Examine the impact of intensive care on the individual's psychosocial requirements and develop strategies that assist to maintain sensory balance.  

Critically consider the ethical basis upon which decisions are made within the critical care setting to enable your active participation in decision making. 

Critically evaluate and synthesise care management strategies and effective decision making to influence patient outcome. 

Explore, evaluate, and reflect on leadership and management styles which impact on the care for critically ill patients and their relatives. 

Appraise the evidence to provide an environment which addresses and promotes workforce well-being. 

Critically evaluate relevant critical care theory and research to promote evidence-based practice within a team setting.  

Synthesise of physiological principles to rationalise care interventions.   

Critically evaluate your personal and professional developmental needs and identify strategies to address these.  

Appraise short- and long-range goals associated with the critical care patient continuum in conjunction with the inter-professional team.  

PSCRCA - Postgraduate Certificate in Critical Care

A range of methods will be used throughout the programme, including: 
  
Lectures 
Lectures are used to communicate core material and as a foundation for further reading. A lecture can help you to feel secure in the foundational knowledge required and point you to significant areas for further study. Lectures provide a basis for discussion in seminars or tutorials. Lecture notes are provided on the virtual learning environment Moodle. However, you are expected to take your own notes too. Lectures may be on campus (in person) or online. Online lectures may be synchronous (in ‘real time’) or asynchronous (pre-recorded). Interaction in synchronous lectures (online or on campus) is encouraged through for example discussions and responses to questions. Lectures will usually be delivered by University staff, and there will also be a range of external experts and service users who will provide their unique perspectives on the topics covered in the lectures. 
  
  
Tutorials 
Tutorials provide you with the opportunity to work on problems and exercises connected with the course material. Tutorials develop problem-solving skills in an environment that encourages an interactive approach to learning. 
  
  
Self-directed learning 
Your studies will involve a number of hours of self-directed learning as outlined below. This time will be spent reading course material and recommended books, articles or other sources and time spent on your personal study-skills development. The Module Leaders will direct you to the relevant teaching materials available on Moodle for you to prepare for lectures, seminars, and tutorials. Reading lists are provided on module specifications and on Moodle. You will be expected to access the resources before the teaching in order to maximise your learning. During self-directed learning you should explore areas of interest, read widely, and engage in activities to support achieving your assessments. Whilst this time counts towards the total hours allocated to the programme, it will be up to you to decide exactly how you spend this time and which areas of learning you wish to pursue. 
  
Guided independent study 
During the programme you will be allocated time to undertake prescribed activities individually or in study groups. These activities may form part of the formative assessment strategy to help you to complete the summative assessment or may be set tasks which you should complete prior to attending a taught session. 
 
 
Moodle 
Moodle is City St George’s Online Learning Environment. Lecturers design Moodle modules to enhance your learning experience by providing online access to module content, activities, communication tools and assessments. This increases opportunities for you to interact with module content and your peers, through on-going discussions and reflection. Your main module reading list will also be available via Moodle’s electronic reading list facility. 
  
Blended Learning 
This approach combines the use of online educational materials, platforms, and synchronous online sessions with more traditional in person-based teaching and learning methods. 
 
You are required to be actively engaged both in your online learning and the face-to-face learning on campus, this will include independent reading, taking a critical stance on your own work in critical care practice and debating issues related to critical care with peers. You will be required to independently learn through your own reading which will be guided towards both greater understanding and evaluation of critical care.  There is a significant amount of self-directed study in each module and this time is for you to read literature related to the modules you are studying. 
 
Formative assessment opportunities will  help you prepare  for your summative assessment. These range from quizzes to assess your knowledge, practice case scenarios, posting on a discussion board your proposed assessment to gain peer feedback, discussion with your mentor in practice on your assessment. 
 
Exposure to your patient group in practice will be an essential element to your learning and formative feedback from your mentor/ assessor will enable you to develop and apply your knowledge and skills in practice.

Curriculum Catalogue

Postgraduate Certificate in Critical Care - PG Cert

PSCRCA