Course Summary

This course will appeal to healthcare practitioners who are involved in or interested in work involving asthma or chronic lung disease. There have been significant advances in treatment and management of both these ailments, which makes this course highly relevant and popular. Guidelines have been published to improve the quality of care received by patients through fostering evidence-based decision making and accelerating the application of new advances to everyday practice.

This course aims to develop professionals who are able to further facilitate these advances. The curriculum builds upon existing knowledge, examining more critically the theoretical and practical issues surrounding the care of people with respiratory conditions. It will relate to wider issues that are facing healthcare professionals and patients too, addressing strategies to combat and alleviate exacerbations through the development of a systematic process which applies the best clinical evidence to the most accurate clinical decision making.

Whether you would like to be more involved in the care of patients with respiratory diseases, or whether you are already a healthcare professional involved in such cases, this course is ideal for you. It is aimed at professionals who may come into contact with sufferers of illnesses such as asthma and COPD, and who have to systematically assess their respiratory status while offering reassurance to their families. The World Health Organisation and the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK have both published papers actively supporting development in this specialism.

Why choose this course?

This course offers students the opportunity to focus on issues of direct relevance to their professional roles, with the aim of improving their employability prospects. Successful graduates could move into a position that allows them to focus on respiratory care, or else they will be more likely to receive a promotion within their current workplace that enables them to take on more managerial responsibility.

During the course you will:

• Study improved decision-making systems for both general healthcare and more specialised respiratory care
• Consider the theoretical and practical elements involved in relevant scenarios
• Benefit from the use of varied teaching methods including e-learning, problem based learning, simulation and role play
• Undertake relevant work-based learning
• Study in a community of like-minded healthcare professionals
• Gain from opportunities to attend conferences and presentations related to respiratory care, which could allow you to network with prospective employers

BSHRE-SN

Assessment

This programme 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


• Communicate knowledge and understanding verbally, to a peer group during seminars and to a panel of assessors during a viva voce

In addition to the above, you are required to complete the Proficiency Acquisition Manual. You will be required to achieve a minimum level of proficient in all of the essential elements. Successful completion of the programme is dependant upon you meeting this minimum standard.

Course Learning Outcomes

At the end of the programme you will be able to:

1. Critically appraise the application of evidence in assessing patients needs in conjunction with the other team members (QAA nursing benchmark A1-4) (C1-6).

2. Critically analyze the process of evaluating client outcomes in conjunction with the other team members (B1-4) (QAA nursing benchmark A1-4) (C1-6).

3. Critically appraise local, national and international health policy.

4. Apply professional, ethical and legal principles to practice.

5. Apply findings from different research methodologies and other forms of evidence to strengthen evidence based practice.

6. Utilize cognitive, psychomotor and academic skills developed within the programme to enhance specialist clinical practice in order to ensure that the holistic needs of the patient are met.

7. Evaluate the changing health care arenas in the context of the specialist area of practice.

8. Critically reflect upon the achievement of personal learning needs, the strategies used to meet these needs and their over all effectiveness.

Educational Aims

• Promote relevant and meaningful learning that reflects the professional development needs


• Enhance participants potential to work effectively within professional boundaries


• Facilitate a greater sense of awareness to self, patients, clients and their families


• Enhance participants capacity to independently evaluate relevant research and practice including the ability to analyze information from a range of sources


• Prepare practitioners to undertake a specialist role

Student support

Students will have access to all student support services from with in the University. In addition to this students will be allocated a personal tutor for the duration of their course. They will also have access to a BREO site that will give them further guidance.

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 specialties.

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.

The course provides a student centered process for integrating personal, academic and career development. You are encouraged to undertake self assessment to identify your strengths, interests and development needs in relation to external criteria e.g. the requirements of an occupation, employer organization or industry sector. Through negotiation with your employer and personal tutor you will be enabled to identify your passions and the areas that you feel you have achieved maximum success and have the ability to excel within.

Career/Further study opportunities

Career:

On completing this course the students are likely to progress into the following areas

• Specialist practitioner roles


• Managerial positions


• Health policy development


• Teaching in practice or practice educators


• Research

Further study:

Each student will be encouraged to retain a reflective journal in relation to their own Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Access to the career guidance

Each student will complete a self audit in terms of their career aspirations and opportunities available to them. This will be revisited in a tutorial at the end of each module. If desired access to Masters programmes.

Entry

Additional:

Appropriate health care background, with access to a work based or focused respiratory specialty.

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 focused groups will enable you to develop your theoretical and practical approach to this programme. 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 programme. The programme is work focused / work based and evidence based.

The range of learning strategies will include:

• Lectures


• Seminars


• Tutorials


• Group work


• Case study


• Practical sessions and simulation


• Role play


• Self directed learning


• Guided study

Using the online learning facility BREO, you will be able to access:

• Learning resources video, audio, PowerPoint presentations


• Lecture notes


• Hyperlinks to other web based resources


• On line discussions

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

N/A

Students with disabilities

Students will have access to Student Services and will be encouraged to actively seek any assistance they require in order to have needs met in relation to a disability they may have.

Skills Development

Communication

To help with the development of this you will:

Take an active approach in the learning process which will require you to engage with others. 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.

Information Literacy

To help with the development of this you will:

• Undertake a set number of hours using e-learning, tutorials and self directed learning to develop a comprehensive understanding of background literature to develop further theory and use recommended databases to access information


• Use recommended databases to access information


• Use Microsoft word processing and Power-point software to produce formative/ summative assessments and presentations

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:

Critically evaluate the research base regarding care, management and interventions relating to cardiology, the service user / clients needs and inter-professional relations with regards to Department of Health agendas e.g. National Service Frameworks.

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:

• Apply concepts discussed in seminars to practice


• With guidance, plan and implement interventions with patients / clients, their families and the multi-disciplinary team

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.

In addition, a variety of teaching sessions and workshops are offered for you to explore your self awareness and identify which modes of learning best develop you skills and knowledge whether cognitive, skill based or discussing beliefs and values that are of concern to you and others.

• You will be encouraged to participate in active discussion and offer feedback on course content to determine whether this met your learning needs


• You will be supported by one-to one tutorials to facilitate at mutual arrangement to foster responsibility and guide professional and personal development

Progress files

A file will be kept on each student outlining their progression on the BSc Respiratory Care programme.

You are encouraged to keep and update regularly a reflective diary or a skills booklet with a portfolio of evidence to monitor and evaluate your progress. You will have the opportunity to evaluate this intermittently during the course and to evaluate progress at completion to identify further professional and personal development for career progression. You will be expected to keep a paper-based or e-portfolio and this will be monitored, for example through the assessment process or by the course tutor system.

Professional standards

Professional attitudes are important to enable engagement in the world beyond the University. It is expected therefore that you will adopt behaviors and attitudes that reflect a sense of professionalism in how you approach different learning opportunities and situations. In return the course team will respond positively towards this. The student and staff are therefore expected to do the following:

Student

Staff

• Be punctual for session and tutorials


• Respect the learning environment and others in the group


• Inform the course lead or personal tutor if you are unable to attend a class or tutorial meeting


• Take the lead in your learning and development


• Follow University policies and procedures especially in relation to the writing and submission of assessments


• Inform the student in advance if you need to cancel a session or tutorial


• Respond to email within 5 working days unless on leave


• Ensure assessment results are published on the expected date


• Promote a learning environment that facilitates mutual respect

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

Students will be introduced to the concept of professional standards in their induction programme and will have the above outlined to them. Adherence to these standards will be monitored by the course leader. If there are any issues that need to be addressed the Filed Chair will be informed who will document this in the progress files and contact the student to discuss the issues further. The student will be offered support to address the issues. However any persistent non-adherence to these professional standards may result in the student being discontinued from the course.