Course Summary

This course aims to equip you with a range of proficiencies, knowledge and skills for life long learning. The specific outcomes, which will aid in the transference of your practice from safe to advanced practitioner, entail a composite of one common core and a minimum of three specialist units, making up the theme of your award.

The aims of this course are to provide a work-based focused approach to learning which will: promote and develop a critical reflective and problem solving approach to learning and clinical practice, facilitate evidence-based practice, encourage the sharing and cascading of knowledge, support self-directed learning based on your individual learning needs and foster interdisciplinary team working.

Why choose this course?

This course allows Allied Health Professionals (AHP's) access to a first degree and career progression, whilst maintaining their unique professional identity.

Completion of this course will help facilitate your career progression; this is enhanced by the development of a Personal Development Plan constructed in partnership between yourself and the academic team which you can then use as a basis for your Individual Performance Review in the work setting.

BSHPE-SN

Assessment

This course will use a range of assessment strategies and throughout, you will be required to demonstrate an ability to:

• Develop action plans to demonstrate a problem solving approach to learning
• Complete a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate critical appraisal of your practice and pertinent literature
• Prepare essays to demonstrate application of pertinent theory to, and evaluation of, practice

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:-

• Critically reflect on current knowledge and communicate with the multidisplinary team in order to synthesise new care solutions to unique care problems. (QAA ODP benchmark C3 ) (C3-2).


• Apply findings and relevant information from a variety of sources including the patients, carers and other health care professionals. (QAA ODP benchmark B1) (B1-2).


• Participate effectively in multidisciplinary approaches to healthcare, in a range of clinical settings. (QAA ODP benchmark A2) (A2-1).


• Maintain the standards and practice required by the statutory regulatory body. (QAA ODP benchmark A2) (A2-1)


• Apply ethical considerations with legal responsibilities in the consideration of professional practice. (QAA ODP benchmark A1) (A1-3).


• Contribute to research and other scholarly activity in the development of professional practice. (QAA ODP benchmark A4) (A4-3).


• Apply professional knowledge and judgement to the continuing assessment of patient needs in order to prioritise actions. (QAA ODP benchmark B1) (B1-3).


• Apply clinical governance and an understanding of the need to embrace risk management and audit. (QAA ODP benchmark C1) (C1-9).


• Engage in life long learning, developing new skills relevant to changing technology, practice and patterns of health care. QAA ODP benchmark A4) (C4-4).

External Benchmarking

none

Educational Aims

The behavioural output of an educational course such as this is complex. The course aims to equip you with a range of proficiencies, knowledge and skills for life long learning. The specific outcomes, which you must meet in order to deliver safe and effective patient care are a composite of the common core and specialist outcomes shown within the units making up the programme.

The aims of this programme are to provide a work focussed / work based approach to learning which will:

• Promote and develop a critical reflective and problem solving approach to learning and clinical practice
• Facilitate evidence based practice
• Encourage the sharing and cascading of knowledge
• Support self-directed learning based on your individual learning needs
• Foster interdisciplinary team working

Student support

Guidance and support will be available from faculty staff, peers, your mentor and colleagues in the work place. Academic advisors can assist you and provide guidance on a range of academic issues. Module lecturers, together with programme leaders, will provide academic advice and support on subject related issues. You will also be encouraged to make use of electronic resources. Non-academic support is provided via the University's student services department.

- http://www.beds.ac.uk/aboutus/qa/foi2005/stuaddmsup

Team working

This programme will facilitate the development of skills, to enhance your ability to work in partnership others. Group work involving active discussion during taught sessions will require you to work with others from your own and other clinical specialities

Career Management Skills

You will be expected to develop your professional proficiencies. The programme will enable you to focus learning and acquire new insights into the provision and development of practice.

Career/Further study opportunities

Career:

Eligibility for progression to band 7 under Agenda for Change.

Further study:

Progression to Masters Award

Entry

Standard:

Standard entry requirements for UK students - http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/ukugentryreqs

Students from the European Union - http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/eu/guides

International students - http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/international/apply

Additional:

Appropriate Health Care background

UK students Undergraduate entry requirements

Standard entry requirements for Foundation degrees (FD/FdSc)

A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.

Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.

• As a guideline, a typical offer would require you to obtain a UCAS tariff score of between 80-120 points, based on your level 3 studies.
• Students who require a Tier 4 Student Visa cannot apply for our foundation courses. For these courses the University of Bedfordshire is not able to sponsor Tier 4 Student Visa applications.

Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.

We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.

Standard entry requirements for Undergraduate degrees (BA/BSc)

We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.

The general requirement is one of the following:

• UCAS Tariff Score greater than 200, which should include either two A level passes or an AVCE Double Award
• An Access qualification
• Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate or BTEC National Diploma

Postgraduate taught courses

Postgraduate applications (MA/MSc) should be made direct to the University using the  standard University application form. There are some exceptions, please see individual course descriptions for details.

• UK/EU students application form
• International (non-EU) students application form
  

Students from the European Union

Entry requirements

As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.

We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.

How to apply

International students

• Undergraduate applications (BA/BSc) can be made direct to the University or via our representatives in your home country. If you intend to apply to more than one university in the UK you should apply via UCAS. If you want to apply to the University of Bedfordshire only you should apply directly using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Postgraduate applications should be made directly to the University using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Healthcare, nursing and midwifery students Many of these courses are not available to overseas students due to UK immigration law in regard to bursary funding. Please contact international admissions to find out if you are eligible to apply
• BA Nursing Studies Level 3 (with or without Overseas Nursing Programme) is available to overseas students - please contact International Admissions by email at international-admissions@beds.ac.uk for further information

(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)

Course application form for international students

We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.

• Course application form for direct applications [PDF]

How to complete your course application

Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.

Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section

Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APL)

APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.

Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `

The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.

We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.

• APL application form for International students [100Kb] updated 041007

What next?

Return your completed application to:

University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom

Contact International Admissions

T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk

Awarding institution

University of Bedfordshire

Teaching Strategy

You will be expected to engage in a range of opportunities both formal and informal. Formal classroom activities including lectures seminars and focussed groups will enable you to develop your theoretical and practical approach to this course. You will be required to actively engage in e learning, in particular the Bedfordshire Resources for Education On-line (BREO) site and the e learning library resource. The integration of theory and practice is significant and forms the main focus of this course. The course is work focussed / work based and evidence based.

The range of hybrid learning strategies will include:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Group work
• Case study
• Practical sessions and simulation
• Role play
• Self directed learning
• Guided study
• Learning resources - video, audio, PowerPoint presentations
• Lecture notes
• Hyperlinks to other web based resources
• On line discussions

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

none

Students with disabilities

You will be required to undertake an occupational health check, in order to ascertain your ability to undertake the practice requirements of this programme.

Skills Development

Communication

To help with the development of this you will

The learning approach will require you to engage with others, in order to be active in your own learning. The use of formal presentations/seminars will also require you to demonstrate the ability to verbally disseminate knowledge and understanding. The use of action plans, essays, portfolios and case studies, will require you to demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in writing

Teaching and learning strategies adopted on this course will encourage and facilitate group discussion and sharing of knowledge and students experiences. The use of more formal seminar presentations will also demonstrate students ability to disseminate knowledge

Information Literacy

To help with the development of this you will:-

You will be required to word process your assignments, use electronic resources to undertake literature searches, and access on-line web based learning materials. Additionally, you will be required to use e-mail and on-line discussion groups.

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:-

The skills and capabilities necessary to successfully complete this programme require you to be able to demonstrate your ability to critically reflect on the knowledge and skills gained. This requires that you develop effective problem solving skills and apply these to practice in a manner which enables you to critically analyse the variety of evidence available in relation to your own area of practice. The QAA have identified subject specific learning outcomes in the form of benchmarks to guide higher education curriculum developers to produce programmes of study which demonstrate graduateness. Therefore, this award has been mapped against the benchmarks for ODP.

graduateness will therefore enable you to lead and develop practice which is safe and effective in accordance with all the best possible evidence.

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:-

The learning and teaching methods employed will require you to undertake a systematic problem solving approach to your development. This includes an assessment of your learning needs, development of action plans, the provision of evidence of learning and the evaluation of outcomes.

Improving learning and performance

You will be expected to develop and maintain a record of your professional development. Not only will this record learning, but also act as a guide towards future learning.

Progress files

All units undertaken are relevant to care in perioperative practice and to your personal and professional development. Guidance and support will be available from faculty staff, peers, your mentor and colleagues in the work place. The approach to learning will require you to undertake an assessment of your learning needs, development of an action plan, the provision of evidence of learning and the evaluation of outcomes.

Professional standards

The role of the practitioner, non medical surgical and in anaesthetics, in the surgical/ perioperative setting is rapidly expanding. The non medical surgical role is carried out by appropriately qualified perioperative practitioners whose role has expanded due to advances in surgical technique. The anaesthetic role is carried out by appropriately qualified perioperative practitioners whose role has expanded due to advances in anaesthetic technique. The programme will facilitate continuing professional development through research based best practice.

This programme will facilitate the progression from safe practitioner to specialist practitioner.

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

This is a unit 'top-up' course designed to enable you to further increase the breadth and depth of your professional knowledge and skills.

You will be expected to be able to provide evidence of prior achievement at academic levels 1 and 2. The University's admission process, within the Field of Health Care, recognises achievement in practice as well as theory and confers advanced standing on professionally qualified practitioners. Other applicants will need to demonstrate possession of appropriate level 1 and/or 2 credit commensurate with their entry level.