Health Assessment and Acute Deterioration in Children and Young People (MSc)

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critically analyse how clinical judgement and decision-making skills are important aspects of managing acute care in children and young people.
• Critique and integrate knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiological processes to clinical decision making
• Critically discuss the signs and symptoms of deterioration in a child or young person’s health through undertaking a prioritised assessment.
• Critique and apply initial nursing actions in managing acute deterioration of children and young people using evidence-based interventions.
• Identify, prioritise and respond to risk factors that may lead to deterioration in health status of children and young people  

Principles of responding to physical deterioration: In this first introductory theme, students will build on their first-year health assessment module and will be introduced to the principles of responding to physical deterioration. This theme will equip students with the underpinning knowledge and skills required to conduct a systematic and prioritised assessment of health needs in children and young people to identify physical deterioration. Students will consider a variety of medical and surgical conditions, the assessment of pain alongside identifying the appropriate health interventions including pharmacological interventions. This introductory theme will also introduce students to the principles of clinical judgement and decision making, alongside the importance of standardized communication strategies, and clinical human factors. Students will consider how they will promote, restore and stabilise health status in children and young people. Respiratory Collapse: In this theme students will consider a range of common airway and respiratory conditions that affect children and young people. They will build on their knowledge gained in the Applied Physical Health and Pharmacology module in year 1. Students will gain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the assessment and management of airway and respiratory issues, including oxygen therapy, nebulization and other pharmacological interventions, non-invasive ventilation, blood gases, chest drains. Conditions that will be considered include asthma, bronchiolitis, airway obstruction, whooping cough and respiratory infections. Infectious Diseases in Childhood including Sepsis: Students will consider a variety of infectious diseases that can occur in children and young people. Students will gain an in-depth knowledge, understanding of assessment and management of a range of infectious disease conditions including the importance of recognising early warning signs of deterioration and responding appropriately. They will consider conditions such as chicken pox, measles, gastroenteritis, meningitis, and sepsis. Medical Emergencies: In this theme students will consider children and young people who live with a long-term condition but who have become acutely unwell. Students will gain an in-depth knowledge of the assessment and management of their acute care needs, identifying priorities in care and responding appropriately. Conditions that will be explored include acute kidney injury, fluid management, Diabetes (DKA), Epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease such as Chron’s disease. Students will also consider the management of sudden death in the acute care setting. Neonatal Care: In this theme students will consider caring for neonates. Students will gain knowledge in assessing neonates, responding to and managing their care considering both complex and acute care situations. Pre, Peri and Post Operative Care in Children and Young People: In this theme students will consider children and young people who are undergoing surgery. Students will consider those admitted for elective surgery as well as those admitted for surgery as an emergency. They will consider the assessment, prioritising and management of care. They will consider pain assessment and management as part of this theme. Students will consider conditions such as appendicitis, tonsillectomy, and orthopedic surgery as a result from acute trauma (such as manipulation under anesthetic for a displaced fracture arm). Child and Adolescent Mental Health: In this theme students will consider children and young people who live with mental health needs. They will develop understanding of the acute assessment of those who present with self-harm and eating disorders. They will consider how to respond to and manage their needs including the role of mental health services such as CAMHS.

This module will be taught using a variety of learning and teaching approaches including: • Lectures • Seminars • Guided independent study

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Formative self-marked practice exam

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback:
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.