Module Breast Ultrasound

Program Overview

This CASE-accredited program in Breast Ultrasound provides a comprehensive understanding of complex anatomy, physiology, and imaging techniques related to breast ultrasound. It equips students with the knowledge and skills to become competent sonographers in breast ultrasound, ensuring they meet national standards. The program emphasizes inter-professional learning, clinical practice, and lifelong learning, preparing students for successful careers in the field.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The overall aim of this module is to enable you to develop a thorough knowledge and understanding complex anatomy and physiology relating to breast ultrasound and the theoretical principles and applications of the more complex imaging techniques and associated pathology applied to this area. This module is only available for stand-alone study, where applicants can prove underpinning relevant previous study, such as an existing CASE accredited ultrasound award from this or another UK academic institution or successful APL against the minimum core modules for PGCert.

Outline:

Modules:

• HMSU7069 Breast Ultrasound (Theory)
• HMSU9069 Breast Ultrasound (Clinical Practice)

Course Structure:

The course will allow students to develop the knowledge and skills required to become a competent sonographer in Breast Ultrasound and is accredited by the Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE) ensuring they meet national standards commensurate with similar/equivalent courses across the United Kingdom (UK). The programme team are respected nationally in their field and are currently research active. The team are actively involved in the development and maintenance of ultrasound education at a national level. The academic components for this course share some modules with the medical imaging (ultrasound) programme. The medical imaging (ultrasound) programme is taught by a team of experienced ultrasound practitioners both in the university and clinical setting.

Assessment:

Learning and assessment are considered as interrelated, as the assessments enable students to demonstrate the extent to which they have achieved the learning outcome of modules and the programme of study overall. Students are supported throughout the assessment process, and formative and summative assessment will be undertaken, and will be an integral part of the academic and clinical modules for ultrasound. There are extensive opportunities within the clinical sphere, evidenced within the clinical portfolio in the form of reflective practice, for students to engage with inter-professional learning. Examples of how this might be achieved are: by following the patient pathway in a breast clinic, or through other imaging modalities/radiology reporting sessions within an imaging department or reflective practice based on working with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) on clinical placement. A wide range of assessment methods are used which are clinically relevant and aligned to programme and module level learning outcomes. Intellectual, professional and key transferable skills are central to learning opportunities and assessment. Successfully undertaking modules on this programme will enhance opportunities for students in their professional careers.

Teaching:

The programme and modules are structured to meet the needs of students and employers. Taught components of the academic modules on the programme are delivered in attendance blocks at the university followed by clinical learning blocks in the designated clinical placement. Students are supported on placement by experienced mentors who have been trained by the university. Students are also able to access UoC digital resources, library facilities, Pebblepad and Blackboard (VLE), whilst on placement. Students will also be supported by their personal tutor, who is a member of the academic team at the university. The clinical aspects of the programme are documented in the students’ clinical e-portfolio and it is a requirement of the programme that students take ownership of this portfolio throughout the programme in line with professional requirements to maintain lifelong learning and to monitor and ensure clinical progress and competence. Learning is based within academic study and professional practice, and the programme team collaborates with experienced clinical ultrasound practitioners.

Other:

Please note optional module choices are made by the placement and not you the student, and these are based fundamentally on patient caseload availability, mentor support and service need. On this course you will... Ensure students have a comprehensive understanding of Breast Ultrasound, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their areas of professional practice. Develop the students’ enthusiasm for, and knowledge and understanding of, the continually expanding field of medical ultrasound by developing the transferable skills expected of the postgraduate student in health care who is able to recognise the interface between academic and applied clinical working and is able to manage and adapt to the rapidly changing technological, medico-legal and ethical frameworks of the National Health Service. Ensure the students are both safe and proficient for first post competence (both in a subject specific way and having the evidence based techniques in their grasp to practice into the future as lifelong learners) in three or four clinical specialisms. You must have organised and secured access to a suitable clinical placement, mentor and patient case load for a minimum of 15 hours per week, for the duration of the module. If your placement is terminated for any reason, the university cannot assist you in finding another placement. If a suitable clinical placement cannot be found in these circumstances, you will be required to withdraw from the course. Applicants should be eligible for registration by their respective UK professional or regulatory body e.g. Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), General Medical Council (GMC), Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), Society of Breast Technologist (SVT). You will also need to provide one reference in support of your application, from the department offering a clinical placement who can confirm your suitability to train in ultrasound. Overseas students can only be considered if they are able to secure a suitable placement in the UK or Ireland. Regretfully the university are unable to assist in this process. You will be required to pass an element of pre-course assessment, carried out in the department sponsoring you. It is the sponsoring department’s responsibility to facilitate this assessment and this will be carried out to ensure that you show an aptitude for Ultrasonography. You will need to undertake a preliminary practical assessment to demonstrate the relevant psychomotor skills such as hand-eye co-ordination, pattern recognition and spatial awareness. The assessment will be of an informal nature, carried out by experienced practitioners in your clinical placement, who will then provide a written reference to confirm your suitability. Before being accepted onto the course, all applicants will be interviewed, usually by telephone. Interviewers from the course team will, amongst other attributes, be looking for a commitment to further study, an understanding of content and standard of the course and interpersonal skills. As part of the recruitment process, applicants may be assessed for their values using the core requirements set out in the Value Based Recruitment (VBR) Behaviour Framework as outlined in the NHS Constitution. Students with other qualifications may be admitted to the course, please contact the Enquiry Centre for further details. Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) may be considered for relevant prior learning at the same academic level.

Note:

This answer is based on the provided context.