Acute Neurological Care Level 6

Our post-qualifying framework (PQF) allows health and social care practitioners to continue their professional development and achieve further qualifications in their field.

about the Acute Neurological Care course

You'll be taught by experienced staff with a clinical knowledge base focused on neurologic emergencies, enhancing your specialist knowledge and skills to develop competency in caring for these patients.

This 20 credit level 6 module is part of the Advanced Certificate Acute and On-going Care. (Neurosciences) or can be used as part of the BSc (Hons) Professional Practice. It may also be used for CPD purposes.

Course overview

Neurologic emergencies may be potentially life-threatening therefore the practitioner must be able to recognise such emergencies and take appropriate actions.

The aim of this module is to focus on enhancing specialist knowledge and skills to develop competency in caring for patients with neurologic emergencies.

You may encounter a patient with a neurologic emergency in almost any setting:

• acute environment

• neurosurgical or neuro medical or neurorehabilitation ward, or in a critical care setting

• acute stroke unit or a medical ward

• the emergency department or as a paramedic - this module is flexible enough for you to meet your needs to care for and manage patients with neurologic emergencies

Programme outline

• Enhancing neuroscience practice

• Assessment and management of neurologic emergencies

• Acute infections of the nervous system

• Acute neuro medical disorders

• Cerebral trauma

• Raised intracranial pressure

• Cerebrovascular disorders

• Seizure activity

• Ethical and legal issues

• Neuroendocrine dysfunction

• Spinal emergencies

Entry requirements

All applicants must:

• Be registered health professionals

• Be currently working in an acute neuro-surgical ward, acute neuro-medical ward, neuro-rehabilitation setting or critical care with exposure to neuro patients

• Have studied to level 6 before

• Have six months of work experience in an acute neuro-surgical ward, acute neuro-medical ward, neuro-rehabilitation setting or critical care with exposure to neuro patients

• Be qualified for at least 2 years

• Have the support of their manager in practice

Learning environment and assessment

The module runs on 9 days (45 hours).

Blended learning with key lectures; some e-learn activity; directed study, workbooks and student led-seminars; the teaching and learning strategy will also include in-class/ online quizzes, learning packages and reflections in and on practice.

The student will maintain a portfolio of learning and development demonstrating evidence of learning, reflection and personal development.

The module will be supported by a virtual learning environment – students will engage with this to access learning materials, supporting directed reading and study, perhaps access to blogs and chat rooms.

The students will be encouraged to explore the web to identify appropriate learning materials/sites in order to assist learners to access pertinent information for their practice.

This module is assessed by a 4000-word portfolio assessment.

Be able to demonstrate engagement throughout studies to the course leader