Major Trauma: Critical Care Patient Management (Level 6)

The purpose of this module is to enable you to effectively apply and evaluate principles of care for the person who has been admitted to a critical care setting following a traumatic injury.

The modules are offered at both levels 6 & 7

APM046- level 7

NM3305 – Level 6.

To undertake this module, you need to be currently working in a critical care setting (e.g. Critical Care unit) which cares for patients following major trauma and offers definitive management of this patient group. You should have completed a post- registration specialist Critical Care Programme (or equivalent).

Who is it for?

Registered nurses currently working in a critical care setting (e.g. Critical Care unit) which cares for patients following major trauma and offers definitive management of this patient group. You should have completed a post- registration specialist Critical Care Programme (or equivalent).

Timetable

Term 2 - 2026/7

Introduction: 6^th of April
Trauma D1: 13^th of April
Trauma D2: 27^th of April
Trauma D3: 11^th of May
Trauma D4: 25^th of May
Trauma D5: 8^th of June

Benefits

This module aims to enhance your practice and knowledge in patient with traumatic injuries. This module is worth 15 credits.

This short course module is designed to be flexible in allowing you to study and reach your goals at your own pace. Our health CPD courses are credit-bearing modules that contribute to a University degree or award.

Transfer course credits towards postgraduate taught degree

As a health care professional, once you've completed this course you could offset 15 credits as part of a postgraduate programme, continuing your study with further modules to make up a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) 60 credits, Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) 120 credits or Master of Science (MSc) 180 credits qualification (all credits must be awarded within five years of study commencing).

A dynamic approach to clinical effectiveness in relation to trauma critical care management is desired. Therefore, session content may be subject to change as new and important issues arise.

The following topics will be covered:

• Mechanism of injury and major haemorrhage
• Assessment principles: primary, secondary, and tertiary surveys
• Traumatic brain injury
• Chest injuries
• Abdominal injuries
• Extremity injuries
• Pelvic injuries
• Pain management
• Spinal cord injury
• Rehabilitation
• Psychological care
• Resilience and preparedness

On successful completion of this module, you will be expected to be able to:

Knowledge and understanding:

• Critically evaluate and apply knowledge of physiological, pathological, psychological and sociological aspects which may influence the care and management of the trauma patient.
• Critically evaluate the delivery of care in relation to current evidence specific to trauma care and synthesise how practice can be developed according to current evidence.

Skills:

• Through the critical evaluation of patient data and holistic assessment, rationalise key interventions in patient care in respect to current practice recommendations.
• Prioritise and critically evaluate immediate, short term and long-range goals associated with the care requirements of the person who has a traumatic injury.

Values and attitudes:

• Reflect upon personal development needs in relation to knowledge/ skill acquisition including personal resilience and develop strategies to address these.
• Critically consider the importance of patient cantered, collaborative compassionate care which is patient and family focused

This module’s contact hours will be delivered using several different approaches. As an example, you will have a combination of in-person sessions and online asynchronous guided activities (you need to plan time to engage with these, so you are prepared for the in-person sessions. These may include viewing recorded lectures and/or other online resources, reading materials, undertaking quizzes, completing exercises and chatting on forums.) In addition to these teaching delivery approaches, you will undertake your own independent study, which may involve wider reading, independent research, skills practice and preparation for assessment.

Teaching type	Contact hours	Self-directed study hours	Total student learning hours
Lecture	22	72	94
Practical sessions/workshops	8	48	56
	30	120	150

The module is delivered face to face on site at the Royal London Hospital.

Assessment

There are two assessments

• Completion of Clinical Competencies. You will be assessed by an experienced critical care practitioner, within a definitive care setting, whilst caring for the patient who has had a traumatic injury.
• You are required to develop a 2000-word case study on a patient who has had a traumatic injury.

If you successfully complete the module, you will a receive a transcript of your learning.

Credits

This course is worth 15 credits toward eligible programmes.

To undertake this module, you need to be currently working in a critical care setting (e.g. Critical Care unit) which cares for patients following major trauma and offers definitive management of this patient group. You should have completed a post- registration specialist Critical Care programme (or equivalent).

English requirements

For those students whose first language is not English the following qualification is also required:

• IELTS: 7.0

Bersten, AD., Soni, N., Oh, TE.  (2019) Oh’s intensive care manual. 8th edition. Elsevier: Amsterdam

Clarke, S. Drozd, M. (2023) Orthopedic and trauma nursing: an evidence-cased approach to musculoskeletal care. 2nd edition, John Wiley and Sons LTD.

Greaves, I. Porter, K. M. (2022) Trauma Care Manual. 3rd Edition. CRC Press: Boca Raton.

Hutchings S (2016) Trauma and Combat Critical Care in Clinical Practice Springer: New York

Jester, R. Santy-Tomlinson, J. Rogers, J. (2021) Oxford handbook of trauma and orthopaedic nursing. Oxford University Press: New York.

Marieb EN (2014) Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology 11ed. Pearson: London

Romani, M. (2021) Postoperative Pain Management Nice Guidelines.

Siegler, M. Rogers Jr, S.O. (2020) Violence, Trauma, and Trauma Surgery: Ethical issues, Interventions, and Innovations. Springer: Cham.

The tutor will suggest material during the class.