Cardiac Care

This module provides the opportunity to explore and develop the knowledge and skills required to meet the diverse acute and chronic needs of cardiac patients, their families or carers. In order to receive care that is effective and of high quality the patient with a cardiac disorder is dependent upon practitioners being skilled in understanding the mechanisms of arrhythmias and 12 lead ECG interpretation and analysis.

We'll focus on the assessment, monitoring, medical and surgical management of cardiac disorders. It will include the patho-physiology for a range of cardiac diseases, disorders and abnormalities; rationale for signs and symptoms and the various treatment strategies.

Through our module, you'll acquire the knowledge analyse the most appropriate interventions and treatments for managing your clients’ needs. This will help you to understand the disease processes, symptoms and interventions that a person may require but allow you to understand why “you are doing what you are doing”. In relating the theory to your practice, you can compare and contrast different perspectives on treatment and management which is imperative for safe and effective clinical practice.

Our module is suitable for nurses working in areas such as coronary care units, cardiac (medical and surgical) wards, investigational units, catheter labs and critical care areas. However it would also be applicable for practitioners working within A&E, and admission assessment units. In addition, paramedics and operating department practitioners (ODPs) may also wish to gain insight into the care and management of cardiac patients.

How you’ll learn
You’ll learn both in the classroom (attending lectures, seminars, group work and skills etc) as well as in your own clinical practice area, under the supervision of an experienced practitioner and qualified mentor.
During the Chelmsford campus delivery, there will be up to three days teaching at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre in Basildon.

Assessment
The achievement of learning outcomes will be assessed at both levels by a fine graded viva and the practice assessment will be achieved through the use of clinical competencies that will be assessed in practice by an experienced mentor.