Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LM Recognising and responding to acute deterioration within complex children’s nursing care. (RAR7)
School	Institute of Clinical Sciences
Department	Nursing and Midwifery
Module Code	02 39992
Module Lead	Tracey Valler
Level	Masters Level
Credits	40
Semester	Semester 1 or 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-40 hours Seminar-30 hours Tutorial-2 hours Practical Classes and workshops-36 hours Guided independent study-292 hours Total: 400 hours
Exclusions
Description	The module aims to enhance the student's knowledge, clinical and diagnostic skills required to perform an in-depth, systematic clinical assessment to safely respond to deteriorating patients. Students will interpret a range of results to formulate a defendable condition hypothesis (working diagnosis). Furthermore, students will critically analyse the potential effects of comorbidities and pharmacology on acutely ill service users. Using these results students will independently articulate clinical management decisions developing an appropriate plan of adult nursing care including safe delegation or referral to medical staff or other appropriate professionals. This will enhance the student's clinical decision-making for individuals requiring acute complex care.   The module will develop knowledge of prescribing legislation, and application of detailed pharmacological knowledge to adult nursing. Bioscience concepts will be developed as a core component to support students with their recognition of deterioration and clinical decision-making. A range of learning and teaching activities will be used, including case studies, lead lectures, group work seminars, and skills and simulation teaching, supported by digital learning and engagement with service users, other agencies, and professionals, as appropriate. Any outstanding communication and management skills or nursing procedures will be assessed through simulation during this module with the involvement of appropriate practice assessors.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Systematically perform an evidence-based clinical assessment rationalising an in-depth understanding of the underpinning evidence to produce a condition hypothesis with service users related to children's nursing practice.  Critically apply theory to prioritise and rationalise appropriate care interventions, in order to independently plan, share information, manage, and delegate children's nursing care.  Critically evaluate clinical guidelines and research evidence to conduct an appropriate medication assessment, articulating safe prescribing principles and the potential effects of a pharmacological intervention on patient presentation.  Synthesise bioscience knowledge to critically analyse and evaluate clinical information in order to recognise physiological deterioration in a service user with comorbidities and acute complex conditions.  Critically discuss the ethical, legal, and professional issues that underpin decision-making when caring for the acutely ill service user.  Evaluate nursing cultural and organisational factors that influence the care of service users with complex health needs.
Assessment
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Assessment: (20%) 15-minute presentation (20.3). (40%) Individual OSCE simulation (20.1; 20.2;); (40%) 2-hour written examination (18.4, 18.5, 18.6). Reassessment: Students will re-sit or resubmit any failed component(s)
Other
Reading List