Clinical Decision Making for Health Care Professionals (level 6) Module

This module is not scheduled to run in 2013/4.

Expressions of interest in the module are welcome for 2014/5; please email Health Admissions.

Why study with us?

The aims of this module are to enable you to develop your knowledge and skills in clinical decision making in relation to the assessment and care management of patients/clients.

Finance

If you are employed within NHS North West and this module is to be funded by your employing Trust, please contact your Line Manager and CPD Lead for advice relating to funding and the funding application process.

What can this course lead to? Having completed this module you may wish to bring these 20 credits into the University Advanced Diploma Practice Development.

Please discuss this opportunity with the module leader before completion of this module.

Alternatively, you may wish to use this module towards one of our top-up degrees: BSc (Hons) Nursing Practice or BSc (Hons) Practice Development.

Resources and facilities We are amongst the UK’s leading health and wellbeing faculties and are proud of the high level of support we are able to offer to our students. We provide a wide range of high-quality courses supported by expert academic and clinical practice staff. If you join us you will enjoy great facilities and learn alongside caring, committed and experienced professionals. Our employment record is excellent. Entry requirements

Prior successful study at underpinning level

More about levels and credits

Credit and UCAS requirements Credit: 20 credits Selection criteria

Students must have studied an assessment and physical examination skills module or equivalent to be eligible to study this module. Only qualified health care professionals will be eligible to study this module.

To be eligible to study this module, students must demonstrate the ability to study at this level and commit to attempting the assessment. When taken as part of a specific named award, the module content and assessment must be focussed towards the subject of that award

Students must participate in the formative components of the module in order to successfully pass the module.

* Cannot be taken in combination with HPHG6008 Clinical Judgement and Decision Making Modules

*HPHG6044 Clinical Decision Making for Health Care Professionals (20 credits at level 6)

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Develop knowledge and critical understanding of theories and frameworks of decision-making that will support clinical practice
• Enhance your knowledge and skills in the management of uncertainty and the application of reasoning in the assessment and management of care
• Critically examine the legal, professional and ethical dimensions of applying clinical decision making in practice
• Critically evaluate ways in which evidenced based practice will support clinical decision-making
• Critically reflect on the use of problem solving strategies in the use of clinical decision-making in practice.

Indicative core bibliography

Huber, D, L. (2005) Leadership and Nursing Care Management, 3rd edn. Philadelphia: Elsevier.

Hopcroft, K. and Forte, V. (2010) Symptom Sorter, 4th ed. Oxford: Radcliffe Publishing

Longmore, M., Wilkinson, I.B.,Turmezei, T., Cheung, C. K. (2007) Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine. Oxford University Press

Melnyk, B. and Fineout-Overholt, E. (2005) Evidence Based Practice in Nursing and Health Care. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

McGhee, M. (2008) A Guide to Laboratory Investigations, 5th edn. Oxford: Radcliffe Publishing

Standing, M. (2010) Clinical Judgement and Decision-Making: In Nursing and Interprofessional Care. Buckingham: OUP.

Standing, M. (2008) Clinical Judgement and Decision-Making in Nursing – Nine Modes of Practice in a Revised Cognitive Continuum. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62, (1), p.124-134.

Module assessment

3,500 word written assignment (summative assessment)

1,000 word equivalent participation in VLE activity (formative assessment)

Course summary

The module adopts a problem based learning approach and explores the application of theories and frameworks to clinical decision making in practice; related legal, professional and ethical issues; reasoning and the management of uncertainty in patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions.