Intensive Care: Foundations of Practice

This module is for healthcare professionals working in an intensive care unit in the UK

Module Information

Module Code

NH6201 (level 6) and NH7201 (level 7)

Content

The module enables students to develop specialist theoretical knowledge and practical skills when caring for Level 2 and 3 adult intensive care patients. The focus is on respiratory, neurological, rehabilitation and transfer topics and follows the National Standards for Critical Care Nurse Education and the National Competency Framework for Adult Critical Care Nurses. Practitioners from non-nursing disciplines can take the module with the skills adapted to their professional responsibilities. In addition to this 30 credit module, prospective students should further complete Intensive Care: Enhancing Practice in order to complete the Intensive Care Pathway.

Entry Requirements  

Applicants for level 7 must have a previous Bachelor degree or show evidence of ability to study at Level 7.
Health care professional currently registered with a professional, statutory and regulatory body with normally 1 year post-registration experience.
Be employed in the UK and working a minimum of 23 hours / week caring for adult intensive care patients and supported by a designated clinical practitioner providing supervision and practice assessment.
Completion of Step 1 of the National Competency Framework for Adult Critical Care Nurses or equivalent.

Assessments

Students will undertake two summative assessments (theoretical and practice) – all elements must be passed to pass the module overall (minimum of 50% for the written assignment and OSCE and pass for the practice skills) .

1) Theoretical summative assessment (Weighting of overall mark 50%)

Written assignment: 3,500 word essay.

2) Practice summative assessment (Weighting of overall mark 50%)

An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) (45 minutes): simulated scenario involving the assessment and management of an intensive care adult patient with acute respiratory failure.

Skills in practice (Competency Assessment Document): normally 6 skills (or equivalent) based on the module content

Module Leader

 Johannes Mellinghoff

Module Dates 

2024-25 Semester 1 Falmer Campus, Brighton (Dates subject to change)

September 26
October 3, 10, 17, 24
November 7, 14, 21, 28
December 5, 12, 19

OSCE – 13-17th January 2025

Essay submission date: 30th January 2025

Skills book submission due date: 13th February 2025

2024-25 Semester 2 Falmer Campus, Brighton (Dates subject to change)

March 5, 12, 19, 26
April 2, 23, 30
May 7, 14, 21
June 4, 11

OSCE – 23-27 June 2025

Essay submission date: 28th August 2025

Skills book submission due date: 28th August 2025

Fees 

If you are choosing this module as part of a postgraduate or community course, please contact fees@brighton.ac.uk for specific information on the fee for this module

If you are taking this as a single module or part of the BSc / Grad Cert/ PG Cert Clinical Practice or BSc (Hons) Professional Practice course, the module fee is:

2024-25 – £1,750

Further Information

Please contact SHS-CPE-Admissions@brighton.ac.uk for further information about the module

This module can be taken as part of a course, including:

BSc (Hons) Clinical Practice (Intensive Care) – NH6201

BSc (Hons) Professional Practice – NH6201

Grad Cert Clinical Practice (Intensive Care) – NH6201 or NH7201

PG Cert Clinical Practice (Intensive Care) – NH7201