Runs at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Dates: 17/02, 24/02 , 3/03, 10/03, 17/03, 24/03, 31/03, 07/4 , 14/04, 21/04, 28/04  

This module is aimed at practitioners working within neuroscience care services including acute care, pre-hospital care and rehabilitation environments.  It is carefully designed to deliver up-to-date theory and to allow discussion of advancements in practice including new interventions and technological developments. The taught content will be linked to your experiences allowing critical discussion of practice with other learners.

We’ll help you improve your knowledge and skills of the pathophysiology and management of patients who have experienced neurological injury/insult. This clinical theory will be closely linked to enhancement of general critical enquiry skills, alongside the development of an understanding and critical awareness of professional practice and the current context of neuroscience focussed health care delivery. We’ll help you to recognise that combining these elements will enrich your clinical skills and overall performance in practice.

The role of the health care practitioner caring for patients who have experienced neurological injury in various environments will be explored, drawing on a range of sources and identifying appropriate nursing and therapeutic interventions, technological applications and best practice. Exploration of the function of the multi-professional team, role expansion and accountability will be addressed. Decision making will be critically analysed in relation to the management of the patient’s care including legal and ethical issues, evidence-based practice, protocols and resource allocation.

The module will enable you to develop the reflective skills to enhance knowledge, understanding and practice through the evaluation of and reflection on experiences. You’ll be able to apply theory to practice and identify areas for further development in relation to their personal development plans.

The course covers areas such as:

·        neurological injury/insult: incidence, risk factors, cost implications, prevention

·        political / clinical drivers: exploration of political influences impacting on neuroscience care and service delivery

·        role and structure of regional neuroscience centres

·        anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system

·        condition specific demographics/risk factors/epidemiology

·        condition specific anatomy and physiology

·        managing the acutely ill neuroscience patient and the use of technological interventions

·        assessment and evaluation of the patient including the use of digital assessment tools and electronic documentation

·        physical consequences of neurological injury – condition specific

·        psychological consequences of neurological injury: impact on role, finances, relationships etc

·        principles of physical rehabilitation

·        decision making and leadership skills

·        development of team-working and conflict management

·        current research relating to neuroscience care and management

·        consideration of and analysis of recommendations in clinical guideline documents.

·        critiquing research articles.

  Please contact module lead if you are unsure of what level you should apply for.

If you are being funded by an organisation, please remind your employer to authorise your funding on our Wozzad system and if you have one, send your purchase order (PO) to admissions@bucks.ac.uk