MSc Clinical Pharmacy / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Surgery

Course unit fact file
Unit code PHAR62252
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Offered by Pharmacy
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This module builds upon the knowledge and skills gained in prior units to further develop the student’s professional practice in managing surgical patients.

The unit is split in to three parts; foundations of surgical care (peri-operative management, nausea and vomiting, antibiotic prophylaxis, wound care, fluids and nutrition, thromboprophylaxis, medicines management and enhanced recovery), general surgery (orthopaedics, obstetrics, colorectal and urology), and advanced surgery (neurosurgery, transplant, vascular, cardiothoracic, hepato-pancreato-biliary, upper gastrointestinal and bariatric surgery).

Depending on the student’s area of practice there will be an opportunity to choose appropriate case studies to meet their professional needs.

At the end of the unit the student should be able to:

Apply a considered, systematic approach to problem solving for surgical patients

Critically apply the evidence available in the pharmaceutical care of surgical patients

Evaluate the key therapeutic principles of surgery and demonstrate how they can be incorporated into practice

Demonstrate a working knowledge of the principles of individualising patient care within specific surgical states

Identify how to monitor the desired outcomes and adverse effects of drug therapy and interventions

Discuss the complexities of therapeutic decision making in different general advanced patient groups

Apply the principles of Continuing Professional Development to practice and evaluating their competence against a professional competency framework.

The unit will be assessed using a a pharmaceutical care plan and case-based discussion.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Medicines Optimisation & Therapeutics 1 PHAR60411 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Foundations of Clinical Pharmacy PHAR63001 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Evidence Based Practice PHAR63002 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Medicines Optimisation and Therapeutics 2 PHAR63012 Pre-Requisite Compulsory

Aims

To further develop the knowledge and skills required to engage in medicines optimisation and in clinical problem solving skills with regards to the pharmaceutical care of the surgical patient.

Students will apply this knowledge to review patients and optimise their therapy through a series of case studies, observations in practice, care plans and case discussions.

 

Learning outcomes

Week 1 to 4

Aim

To develop the knowledge and skills required to deliver medicines optimisation and demonstrate clinical problem-solving skills in surgical patients

Outcomes

Demonstrate advanced knowledge of best clinical practice and national guidance for the following areas in relation to surgery: nausea and vomiting, VTE prophylaxis, antibiotic prophylaxis, nutrition and fluids, anaesthesia, peri-operative medicines management, wound care and enhanced recovery pathways

Apply this knowledge to the pharmaceutical care of surgical patients

Optimise medication in surgical patients  while considering individual patient factors

Use critical reasoning to synthesise, analyse and evaluate primary and secondary sources of data relating to the pharmaceutical care of the surgical patient

 

Week 5 to 8

Aim

To develop the knowledge and skills required to deliver medicines optimisation and demonstrate clinical problem-solving skills in general surgical patients

Outcomes

Demonstrate advanced knowledge of best clinical practice and national guidance for the following areas in relation to surgery: orthopaedics, urology, colorectal and obstetrics

Apply this knowledge to the pharmaceutical care of surgical patients

Optimise medication in surgical patients  while considering individual patient factors

Use critical reasoning to synthesise, analyse and evaluate primary and secondary sources of data relating to the pharmaceutical care of the surgical patient

 

Weeks 9 to 12

Aim

To develop the knowledge and skills required to deliver medicines optimisation and demonstrate clinical problem-solving skills in advanced surgical patients

Outcomes

Demonstrate advanced knowledge of best clinical practice and national guidance for the following areas in relation to surgery: neurosurgery, transplant, vascular, cardiothoracic, hepato-pancreato-biliary, head and neck and upper gastrointestinal and bariatric surgery 
Apply this knowledge to the pharmaceutical care of advanced surgical patients

Optimise medication in surgical patients  while considering individual patient factors

Use critical reasoning to synthesise, analyse and evaluate primary and secondary sources of data relating to the pharmaceutical care of the surgical patient

 

Teaching and learning methods

Online Option:

This course unit is delivered online using Blackboard 10. All learning material is presented in week by week folders to help students manage their time. Each week will contain four main elements; background reflective tasks, learning in the form of an e-lecture, embedded video or webinar, further reading and finally a task to consolidate learning (e.g. completion of coursework, formative quiz or participation in a group discussion). Students will be given the option to choose from a range of general and complex surgical presentations to study to enhance their own expertise relevant to their current role or future career aspirations.

This unit builds upon the knowledge and skills gained in prior units to further develop the student’s professional practice in managing patients with complex and advanced surgical requirements including foundations of surgical care (peri-operative management, nausea and vomiting, antibiotic prophylaxis, wound care, fluids and nutrition, thromboprophylaxis, medicines management and enhanced recovery), general surgery (orthopaedics, obstetrics, colorectal and urology), and advanced surgery (neurosurgery, transplant, vascular, cardiothoracic, hepato-pancreato-biliary, upper gastrointestinal and bariatric surgery).

This will provide the following outcomes:

Critical evaluation of primary and secondary evidence, local and national guidelines relating these to the individual patient needs

Develop the student’s decision making and problem solving skills with regards to patient care

Medicines optimisation issues including patient safety, which will include relevant national policy and guidelines

Patient-centred care including patient and health care professional communication and consultation skills

Encourage a holistic approach to patient care which accounts for the personal, social and cultural needs of the patient

Depending on the student’s area of practice there will be an opportunity to choose appropriate case studies to meet their professional needs.

The on-line tutorials included in the course allow students the opportunities to broaden knowledge and provide the opportunity for group discussion of more complex disease states and practice-related issues regarding medicines optimisation.  The unit will foster an online student community with interactive activities and communications with the unit team

 

Knowledge and understanding

  • Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the underpinning pharmaceutical care requirements of a surgical patient
  • Demonstrate a systematic understanding of specific areas of surgery and the complex issues involved in therapeutic optimisation and individualising care for these patients
  • Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of best clinical practice and its application to clinical practice and pharmaceutical care of patients with specific surgical needs

 

Intellectual skills

  • Integrate theory and research of disease pathology and disease management with patient information to apply best evidence to practice in a clinical problem-solving context
  • Use critical reasoning to synthesise, analyse and evaluate primary and secondary sources of data from clinical areas and apply these to individual patient problem-solving

 

Practical skills

  • Safely and competently carry out a range of patient-based clinical skills (pharmaceutical care planning, case-based analysis of patient management)
  • Use resources to collect and select information about the optimal clinical management of a surgical patient
  • Develop presentation skills

 

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Evaluate their own academic and personal progression
  • Learn effectively for the purpose of continuing professional development and in a wider context throughout their career, including demonstrating competency against a professional competency framework

  

Assessment methods

Assessment task

Length

How and when feedback is provided

   Weighting within unit 

Oral case-based discussion

 

30 mins

 

Mark sheets will be made available to students with written feedback

50%

Pharmaceutical care plan

2,000 words

Performance descriptors provided after examination board via Grademark with individual feedback in Blackboard. Supplemented with Smallvoice feedback

50%

 

Recommended reading

All directed reading is populated in the unit reading list. 

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Neetu Bansal Unit coordinator

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