Advanced Critical Care Practice, University of Warwick

This course is primarily aimed at doctors, nurses and paramedics caring for critically ill patients.

This course aims to prepare health care professionals to work at a senior clinical decision making level across a number of clinical settings.

The structure of the course will enable the non-medical clinicians to undertake a full systems examination (Child and Adult) and to develop the knowledge and skills to clinically and critically interpret results of tests and investigations.

A flexible, modular structure allows you to study over a three years period starting with the PG Certificate in the first year, then progressing to the PG Diploma in the second and then going on to the MSc stage in the third.

Taught by senior practising clinicians and health care professionals, this is an interactive programme where you will learn through seminars, group work and individual study.

Quick Links

• Who is the course for?
• Course content
• Modules
• Entry requirements
• Teaching methods
• Assessments

Who is the course for?

This course is aimed primarily at doctors, nurses, paramedics and AHPs who work wihtin acute, emergency and critical care environments such as Emergency Departments, Intensive Care Units and Ambulance Services. It is ideal for those practitioners who are developing their scope of practice towards an autonomous role.

Course structure:

The course is modular and organised in blocks of study lasting between four and six days at a time, which can be consecutive days within the same week or spread out over several weeks.

PG Certificate (60 CATS points): MD938 Critical Care: Advanced Emergency Practice (20 CATS) and MD939 Critical Care: Critical Care Transfer (20 CATS).

PLUS

MD940 Critical Care: Pre Hospital Special Incident Management (20 CATS), OR MD981 Clinical Investigations and Diagnostics for Healthcare Professionals (20 CATS).

PG Diploma (120 CATS points): The PG Certifcate modules above plus MH923/MD915 Understanding Research Critical Appraisal in Health Care (20 CATS points), and optional core modules to the value of 40 CATS chosen from the module list below.

MSc (180 CATS points): The PG Diploma modules above plus PC950 Professional Project (40 CATS) and MH928 Introduction to Management in Health Service Organisations (20 CATS)

Most modules can also be taken as a stand-alone Postgraduate Award.

Modules:

PG Certificate - Year 1

Core modules:

• MD938 Critical Care: Advanced Emergency Practice (20 CATS)
• MD939 Critical Care: Critical Care Transfer (20 CATS)

Optional core modules:

• MD940 Critical Care: Pre-Hospital Special Incident Management (20 CATS), OR
• MD981 Clinical Investigations and Diagnostics for Healthcare Professionals (20 CATS)

PG Diploma - Year 2

Core modules:

• MH923/MD915 Understanding Research and Critical Appraisal in Healthcare (20 CATS)

Optional core modules:

Choice of optional core modules to the value of 40 CATS points from the list below:

• MD982 Clinical Examination Skills for Healthcare Professionals (40 CATS)
• MD910 Health Care Ethics (20 CATS)
• MD987 Community-Based Care (20 CATS)
• Accreditation of Prior Learning for the Non-medical Prescribing course (undertaken in the last three years at level 6 or 7) (20 CATS)

MSc - Year 3

Core modules:

• PC950 Professional Project (40 CATS)
• MH928 Introduction to Management in Health Care Organisations (20 CATS)

Entry requirements:First degree (2:2) or equivalent and current registration as a healthcare professional alongside four years post-registration experience. Applicants will need to be currently employed or have access to clinical placements that will support development of clinical skills during the course of the modules. Applicants will need to have access to clinical and educational mentorship support.Applicants without a degree may be admitted to a Postgraduate Award, and could potentially progress to an MSc upon successful completion of the Award.Teaching methods:This is an interactive programme. You will learn through lectures and seminars, practical group work and guided reading. You will benefit from guided discussions and have the opportunity to practice the skills you have learnt during the sessions.Assessment:Assessment for each module can be seen by looking at the relevant module page but typically consists of written essays of 4,000 words each, a clinical portfolio and/or a case-based examination. The Professional Project is assessed by a project report of 10,000 words.