University Advanced Diploma - Critical and/or Acute Care: Practice Development
You are passionate about the deteriorating patient or the assessment and management of the critically ill adult. This course supports self-development whilst meeting the demands of the services in which you practice and national standards.
The health care team supporting deteriorating acutely or critically ill adult in either the pre or in-hospital environment study this course to develop their practice and improve the service they provide to these complex vulnerable patients/service users.
On this course, you can choose between two distinct pathways: Adult Acute Care and Adult Critical Care. Your chosen pathway will enhance your ability to complete a detailed assessment of the deteriorating or critically ill adult and equip you with the appropriate knowledge base to anticipate problems, enhancing your ability to manage the patient accordingly. The UAD and PG Cert in Acute Care follow the same pathway and are co taught, the difference is reflected by the academic level and need for wider reading, mastery of subject and critical thinking at level 7.
As you develop within the course you will gain the skills and expertise to critically analyse situations and clinical presentations, approaching the patient holistically and meeting the needs of their family and significant others.
- Advance your academic and professional development through self-reflection and reflexivity.
- Develop complex, specialised knowledge and a critical awareness of issues at the forefront of your field of practice.
- Develop your knowledge and understanding of altered pathophysiology in the event of deterioration and/or critical illness to inform decisions and management plans.
- Develop in line with workforce needs, which supports the progression of staff in accordance with the standards set by professional, statutory and regulatory bodies.
How you will learn
You will learn through multiple methods of teaching, experiences, and the use of available resources to support independent learning. Within your workplace you will require a Practice supervisor (mentor) and a practice assessor to support application of theory to practice and sign off your agreed competencies to support the end assessment.
Each pathway is delivered slightly differently. Any sessions delivered will be recorded to enable students to access these sessions at an alternative time.
The Acute Care pathway is delivered predominantly online asynchronously, using activities and feedback to develop your knowledge, and understanding of the acutely ill patient. There are with some synchronised sessions to support a learning community and interaction with your peers.
The Critical Care Pathway is delivered online to support the geographical location of students, with occasional face to face teaching. Predominantly there are synchronised (live) sessions, using technology within Blackboard (a virtual learning platform), providing opportunity for keynote lectures with discussion and time for questions, group work, live discussion, and interaction with other students from similar critical care environments. Creating a shared learning environment and community.
Each pathway has a comprehensive reading list and resources available to the student to promote their learning experience. There will be an expectation of the students to participate in the activities providing peer feedback as requested to enhance the shared learning model. The delivery of the course content is by experienced lectures with extensive experience in acute and critical care environments.
How you will be assessed
The process of assessment is clear and transparent across both pathways, using rubric marking grids to support the student in understanding the distribution of their grades. The process is moderated by secondary marking and external examiner review, before being processed and confirmed by the University Assessment Board.
To support progression to summative assessment all students will have opportunity for a formative assessment, unmarked but supported with comprehensive feedback from the module lead and at times peer feedback as part of this process of development towards assessment. Submission dates are clear and marked as per university regulations time frame.
The Acute Care pathway uses multiple methods of assessment, including interactive poster presentations and written assignments, based on agreed learning contracts which are specific to their optional module choice.
The Critical Care Pathway builds on the essential presentation and oral communication skills required for health care staff working in critical care environments. The Oral poster presentation is used in the initial modules, enabling the student to develop these skills and improve their grade going forwards.
The Completion of the Step 2 & 3 competencies as directed by the National Framework for Nurse Education in Critical Care is an essential element of assessment in practice for this pathway. Supported by a short written reflective account of their progression and development during the completion of their competencies.
Selection criteria
Students wishing to study this course must be working 0.5 or more WTE in a critical care or acute care environment as a registered health care professional.
For the Critical Care Pathway the student must have completed their Step 1 competencies in clinical practice, limiting the applicants to registered nurses only.
All students require the support of their employer, a named mentor/clinical supervisor/assessor in practice.
Start Dates
Critical Care Pathway - January
Acute Care Pathway - September
20 Credit Health Module Pricing
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.
.webp)
.jpg)
Location
Carlisle - Fusehill Street Campus
The Fusehill Street campus has been the setting of life-saving treatments since World War I. Now, it's home to world changers, life-savers, crime fighters, and entrepreneurs with access to high-quality facilities and innovative thinking.
Find out moreLocation
Lancaster Campus
Lancaster is the Red Rose heartland, a student haven full of history and culture. With iconic stone architecture, parkland, and a caring community, this is the place to get involved. The campus houses top-quality facilities tailored to the needs of life-savers, world changers, and future leaders.
Find out moreLocation
Online Learning
Online learning at the University of Cumbria is an interactive experience that makes use of a range of technologies and media types to provide a rich learning environment.
Find out more
Find out more about studying with us
Attend an Open Day at Cumbria
An Open Day is your opportunity to explore one of 5 campuses, meet your lecturers, and find out how the University of Cumbria could become your new home.
