ADVANCED VASCULAR ACCESS AND IV THERAPY - 2024/5

Module Overview

This module provides students with the opportunity to advance existing venepunture and cannulations skills and to develop expertise in advanced vascular access. 

Students will explore the underpinning theory supporting best evidence-based practice and will be provided with opportunity to develop practical confidence and competence, both within simulated learning environments, and their own clinical setting to ensure safe practice.

Module provider

School of Health Sciences

Module Leader

DOPSON Amy (Health Sci.)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

In order to take this module, the student must hold a professional healthcare qualification that allows them to administer IV therapy, and be registered with an appropriate governing body. The healthcare professional must have at least two years post registration clinical practice.  There is an expectation of experience, confidence and competence in standard Venepuncture and Cannulation prior to module.  The student must also hold a role that requires expertise in advanced vascular access, this is required to successfully complete the practice-based assessment elements. You must ensure you have support and access to a suitable prepared, qualified and experienced practice assessor within your organisation, best practice would suggest the availability of both a practice supervisor and assessor to aid your growth and development.  

Module content

The focus of this module is the safe, knowledgeable practice in vascular access and intravenous therapy within healthcare practice, therefore content will initially explore:

• Indications for IV therapy and vascular access


• Vascular access devices


• Vascular access decision making and the tools supporting this.


• Vessel health and preservation


• Vein assessment technology 


• Long-term disease, ill health and vein health 


• Ethical best practice


• Infection prevention and control 


• Peripheral vascular access


• Central vascular access


• Complications; avoidance and management 


• IV therapy 


• Managing and developing a vascular access service

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide participants with the opportunity to demonstrate safe and accurate clinical skills, alongside evidencing their ability to critically engage with evidence-based practice and show a depth of critical analysis within decision making.   

 

  Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of: 

 

• Portfolio of Practice:  Part A – Competency Document (to be achieved in the practice setting).   Pass/Fail (Learning Outcomes 1-6)


• Portfolio of Practice:  Part B – 2000 word reflective case study (Weighting: 100% overall module grade)  (Learning Outcomes 1-6)


• Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE)

           The OSCE will assess safe accurate clinical practice only and therefore will be PASS/FAIL.    (Learning Outcomes 1,2 &6)           

• MCQ – to ensure safe practice as the module is endorsed by the National Infusion and Vascular Access Society (NIVAS) students will be required to also pass a multiple choice question (MCQ) exam which will have a 75% minimum pass rate, therefore will be a Pass/Fail element within the assessment strategy.  (Learning Outcomes 1-6)

Formative assessment 

 Students will be assessed formatively within practice and within simulation, and will complete a formative MCQ and formative OSCE during the module.

Feedback 

The learning and teaching strategy within this module is designed for continuous feedback and support both within the university setting and within the clinical environment, to support each student to develop their competence throughout. In addition, all students are provided with the opportunity to submit a sample of writing/assignment plan (approx. 10% of final word count) for feedback prior to summative assessment. 

Module aims

• Prepare registered healthcare professionals to be safe, competent and effective practitioners in the field of vascular access and intravenous therapy.
• Empower participants to critically explore and evaluate theoretical and empirical principles underpinning advanced intravenous therapy and vascular access.
• To develop and extend the participants advanced specialist knowledge and skills in the field of vascular access and intravenous therapy, and its application to ensure optimum patient care.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to; enable students to develop confidence and competence in their advancing clinical skills.  Whilst ensuring they also develop excellent knowledge and decision making skills, to apply the evidence based theory to their practice, and to be able to adapt decision making to individual patient needs.

 

The methods used will challenge critical thinking, and create a non-threatening environment, it which to draw up experiential learning to support the development of individual professional and personal self. 

 

The learning and teaching methods include: 

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      • Lectures¿ 
      
      
      • Online – learning materials/ discussion board¿ 
      
      
      • Classroom discussions¿ 
      
      
      • Simulation
      
      
      • Practice-based learning within the clinical environment
      
      
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: HCRM045

Other information

The school of Health Sciences is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

 

Employability: Students are registered healthcare professionals and will be developing advanced skills and knowledge that can be applied to their clinical practice and therefore enhance their future career aspirations and employability.  The format of the module encourages the student to practice and develop a portfolio of evidence that can be taken into clinical practice. 

 

Resourcefulness & Resilience: Rather like employability, core to the module ethos is the development of resourcefulness and resilience, and independence in the individuals developing practice.   Students will be encouraged to apply underpinning evidence to a range of clinical challenges to further develop clinical decision-making skills and therefore adaptability.

 

Sustainability: The sustainability of the healthcare practice workforce is currently a national challenge.  Supporting participants to expand their expertise, and scope of practice enables significant benefits to the wider healthcare workforce and enhances the sustainable workforce within the NHS.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2024/5 academic year.