Professional Practice (Respiratory Care)

The course requires you to complete a total of 120 credits at Level 6, typically from four 30 credit modules. You can choose the modules you wish to study from a number of options depending on your study interests or the pathway you wish to follow. However, the final module must be either the Dissertation module or the Research and Innovation in Practice module.

For the Respiratory Care pathway, the Respiratory Care module and the final module are core. The final module must be either the Dissertation module or the Research and Innovation in Practice module.

Content to include the following:

Concepts of specialist and advanced practice in respiratory care
Determinants of respiratory disease
-age
- ethnicity
- culture
-socio economic status
-associated pathology.
Application of respiratory anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and technology to the care of patients with respiratory problems.
Respiratory physical assessment skills, interpretation of diagnostic tests and investigations.
Assessment and management of patients with acute (acute on chronic) respiratory failure.
Key clinical skills
-airway management
- oxygen therapy
-nebulised drug administration
-arterial blood gas interpretation
-non-invasive ventilation (mechanical ventilation)
-pleural drains
- tracheostomy care
-suctioning.
Analysis of the holistic care of patients with acute and acute on chronic respiratory problems including ethical, legal, psychological and social issues.
Professional issues relating to respiratory care: national service frameworks, NICE guidelines, integrated care pathways, risk management, multi disciplinary collaboration / communication.