Advanced Clinical Skills in Paediatric Ventilator Management (GOSH/LSBU Partnership) (Level 7)

Program Overview

The Advanced Clinical Skills in Paediatric Ventilator Management program is a postgraduate module designed for nurses seeking to advance their skills in the care of children requiring respiratory support in intensive care settings. The program emphasizes comprehensive assessment, ventilation strategies, weaning techniques, and extubation skills, preparing practitioners for extended roles within children's intensive care. Upon completion, participants will possess the knowledge and expertise to autonomously care for critically ill children requiring respiratory support.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Advanced Clinical Skills in Paediatric Ventilator Management (GOSH/LSBU Partnership) is a Level 7 postgraduate module designed to develop advanced nursing practice in the paediatric intensive care setting.

• Analyze the professional and legal parameters for healthcare professionals working in extended roles, recognizing their own limitations.
• Enable practitioners to demonstrate competence in:
• Performing a comprehensive physical assessment of the mechanically ventilated child.
• Interpreting assessment findings and planning, prioritizing, implementing, and evaluating care appropriately.
• Discussing and demonstrating the use of appropriate ventilation strategies and modes in therapeutic respiratory care.
• Suggesting alternative strategies.
• Demonstrating safe and effective weaning strategies.
• Demonstrating safe and appropriate extubation skills.

Assessment:

• Formative Assessment: Following each study day, students are given a blended learning topic to present, enabling them to identify gaps in their clinical knowledge.
• Summative Assessment:
• Practice Based Assessment (Clinical Logbook):
This details the student's management of ventilated children and provides evidence of their developing competence. The log must be available in the practice area at all times and submitted to the module leader prior to the oral examination. This is a formative piece of work that does not form part of the module's overall mark.
• Theoretical Assessment:
• A viva examination:
This oral examination lasts approximately 40 minutes and assesses the student's:
• Understanding of professional issues surrounding advanced practice and their implications on service provision.
• Ability to interpret, adapt, and apply information surrounding the respiratory management of a child in paediatric intensive care, demonstrating sound clinical decision-making skills.
• Ability to critically evaluate the respiratory management documented in the clinical logbook.
It is essential for practitioners undertaking extended roles in children's intensive care to have the knowledge and skills to provide a safe and optimal standard of holistic care for children and young people.

Other:

• The module is available as a standalone module.
• The module is typically offered in Semester 1 (one intake).
• The venue for the module is GOSH (Great Ormond Street Hospital).
• The module requires appropriate professional registration and a minimum of two years of current experience working within intensive care.
• Pre-requisites include 240 Credit points, with no more than 120 at level 4 and no less than 120 at level 5 or equivalent.
In exceptional circumstances, individuals with evidence of recent professional learning may enter with 60 Credit points at level 5 or equivalent. The preference is for individuals to have undertaken previous study at level 6 or 7.