The Preoperative Association, in collaboration with UWE Bristol, are delighted to offer this 20 credit module, Preoperative Assessment in Clinical Practice. This module is designed for registered clinical practitioners (nurses and allied health care professionals), working with people on a surgical pathway, who want to improve the care and management of patients awaiting primarily, but not exclusively, elective surgery.

The module will provide opportunities to develop skills and competencies in key areas such as critical appraisal and evaluation of the evidence base to inform delivery of a preoperative assessment service. You will be introduced to theories and strategies in patient care during preoperative assessment and its importance in enhancing postoperative outcomes. The module with critically evaluate the relationships between clinicians and patients, how this informs professional judgement and communication of risk to patients so they can make informed decisions and choices before receiving elective surgery.

The Preoperative Association board members and educational faculty will deliver a comprehensive and contemporary educational program. This will encompass key aspects of preoperative assessment, current evidence, data and research and fundamental issues that impacts on the patient waiting for elective surgery.

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

• critically analyse current evidence and guidelines relevant to safe preoperative assessment.   
• evaluate and critically analyse local data to drive improvement in preoperative assessment.   
• apply the principles of quality improvement in relation to preoperative assessment.

Extra information

If the course you are applying for is fully online or blended learning, please note that you are expected to provide your own headsets/microphones.

Content

The module syllabus typically covers the following topics:

• physiological impacts of a variety of chronic long-term conditions that affect patients listed for surgery.

• a range of subjects relating to preoperative assessment for example, taking a patient history, clinical examination, assessment of physiological and psychological fitness, and interpretation of investigations.

• the role of prehabilitation, optimisations of chronic diseases and making every contact count.

• the pharmacotherapeutic profiles of the surgical patient will be covered in the context of the patient's long-term condition, co-morbidities, surgical outcomes, concordance with medications and how to manage this.

• risk assessment analysis for high-risk surgery.

Teaching will be in the form of seminars, lectures and online activities. The module will be delivered through a combination of face-to-face and virtual activities. 

Face-to-face activities will take place at UWE Bristol Glenside Campus. Online activities will be available on VLE for directed asynchronous learning.

Assessment for this module will comprise a 2,500 word (maximum) written assignment. 

Formative assessment opportunities will include peer-to-peer discussions based around case studies and reflective practice.