MSc Audiology / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Professional Practice

Course unit fact file
Unit code PCHN60060
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Full year
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This unit will provide students an introduction to professional practice within a health service setting. The unit will introduce the frameworks and academic literature underpinning professional practice and enable students to gain the knowledge, skills, experience and tools to develop, improve and maintain high standards of professional practice at all times.  

This unit will introduce clinical communication skills and explore the importance of patient centered care.

Aims

Introduction to communication skills.  

Introduction to leadership within Healthcare  

Ethical foundations of professionalism and the patient at the center of care  

Introduction to quality, quality improvement  

Mandatory online NHS training

Knowledge and understanding

  • Knowledge and understanding
  • Understand the ethical foundations of professionalism, including critical reflection, and how these relate to the audiologist, the patient, the practice of healthcare science and the wider healthcare environment.  
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the structures, processes and methodologies that underpin the quality of the service provided by the NHS and quality improvement initiatives to promote high-quality patient care and enhance patient safety and discuss the quality mechanisms relevant to their division/specialism.  
  • Explain the principles of effective written and verbal communication and feedback, considering the needs and dignity of patients, the public, health professionals and scientists.  
  • Have a knowledge and understanding of a range of leadership models, including those that underpin current NHS Leadership and Competency Frameworks, and identify and critically evaluate how your personal values, principles and assumptions affect your personal leadership style.  
  • Explain the current structure and management of health and social care systems and services at a national (UK-wide) and local level and the way in which the voice of patients and the public is embedded in all aspects of healthcare and healthcare education.  

Intellectual skills

  • Critically analyse scientific and clinical data
  • Present scientific and clinical data appropriately
  • Formulate a critical argument
  • Evaluate scientific and clinical literature  
  • Compare and contrast a range of leadership models
  • Appraise the ethical foundations of professionalism, including critical reflection, and how these relate to the clinician, the patient, the practice of audiology and the wider healthcare environment.  

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Be able to communicate effectively with professional colleagues and service users. 

Assessment methods

Please note students must  pass  the  pass/fail assessment task associated with this unit and must achieve a pass mark of  50%  overall  to be awarded the credits for this unit. 

  1. Leadership and ethics assignment (1000 words, 50%)
  2. Communication and reflection (1000 words, 50%)
  3. Mandatory training (pass/fail)

Feedback methods

Written feedback.

Recommended reading

  • Tony Hope; Medical Ethics A Very Short Introduction: Oxford University Press 2004
  • Chloe Baxter, Mark G Brennan, Yvette Coldicott, Maaike Moller; the practical guide to Medical Ethics & Law 2nd Edition: PasTest (2005)
  • Barr J and Dowding L (2008) Leadership in Health Care Sage Publications (London)
  • BSA Procedures (http://www.thebsa.org.uk/resources/)
  • Health and Care Professions Council ( HCPC) http://www.hcpc-uk.co.uk/
  • British Academy of Audiology ( BAA) http://www.baaudiology.org/
  • http://www.healthtalkonline.org/
  • http://www.england.nhs.uk/2013/03/26/nhs-constitution/
  • Galvin, K. and Todres, L. (2013) Caring and Well-Being: A Lifeworld Approach. Routeledge, London.  
  • Watson, J. (2012). Human Caring Science: A theory of nursing. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.  
  • Muñoz K. Counselling Skill Development in Audiology: Clinical Instruction Considerations. Semin Hear. 2018;39(1):9-12. doi:10.1055/s-0037-1613701

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 30
Independent study hours
Independent study 120

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Bridget Goodier Unit coordinator

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