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PA500388: Critical care

[Page last updated: 03 August 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology
Credits: 15 CATS credits
Notional Study Hours: 150
Level: FHEQ level 7
Period:
Modular (no specific semester)
Assessment Summary: CW100
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Assessment detail for this unit will be available shortly.
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes:
* Critically analyse and evaluate the pathophysiology of conditions related to critical care admissions, the pharmacology of key medicines used in the critical care setting, and apply these to support complex optimisation decisions including therapeutic selection, administration and monitoring within the context of clinical uncertainty
* Use effective communication strategies to support patients (and carers, advocates, representatives) and healthcare professionals to make complex medicines optimisation decisions; taking into account patient views/beliefs/ICE (ideas, concerns, expectations)
* Identify, critically evaluate and apply key evidence sources in order to effect (and support others to effect) medicines optimisation outcomes within these clinical conditions
* Identify and employ effective patient activation strategies to support patients with these conditions
* Design enhancements to medicines and health services, including effective use of health resources, patient facing services and clinical governance structures
* Reflect on learning experiences, evaluate performance, and identify performance gaps within this clinical area to support ongoing development.

Aims: To update the underpinning knowledge of pharmacology, pathophysiology and medicines optimisation to support the clinical management of patients managed in the critical care setting.

Skills:
* Clinical skills
* Study skills
* Written communication
* Working with others
* Scientific and practical skills
* Improving learning and performance
* Information and communication technology
* Problem solving.

Content:
* Pathophysiology of key conditions including:
- Sepsis
- Renal replacement therapy
- Fluid resuscitation
- Intubation and sedation
- Stress ulcer prophylaxis
- Infection prophylaxis
* Pharmacology, administration and monitoring of medicines used in the treatment of these conditions and for other conditions for patients in critical care; including administration to the sedated patient
* Drug-disease interactions specific to these conditions; including renal replacement therapies and multi-organ failure
* Pharmacoeconomic consideration of medicines optimisation
* Professional and ethical values; complex ethical decision making
* Communication, negotiating and agreeing complex healthcare decisions; including where the patient is sedated / communication with carers, relatives, advocates etc
* Additional skills to support the delivery of enhancements to medicines and health services, including effective use of health resources, patient facing services and clinical governance structures.

Programme availability:

PA500388 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.