Current Perspectives in Cardiovascular Disease module (NB30103)

Module code: NB30103

SCQF Level: 9 (Bachelors Degree)

SCQF Credits: 30 (15 ECTS)

Total student effort: 300 hours

General Practice Nurses

NHS Education for Scotland provides funded places on this module. The funding is for nurses working in General Practice in Scotland. To apply for a funded place, please email Nursing-Health-Postqualifying@dundee.ac.uk  Please provide your GP practice, role in the practice and module of interest in your email.

Target audience

This module is suitable for any health professional, involved in delivering or managing the care of cardiac patients in the acute or community setting.

Delivery details

This module is delivered through a blended approach with a combination of 5 face to face contact days, work based learning and additional educational support through MyDundee (the University virtual learning environment). Access to MyDundee offers students easy access to web resources and documents needed for their studies, as well as facilitating discussions and the exchange of ideas with fellow students and tutors. 

Module aims

• The aim of this module is to allow students to  explore the prevention, diagnosis, acute and long term management of common cardiac conditions
• To  enable participants to  develop and apply underpinning  knowledge, skills and attitudes to the management of patients with acute and long term cardiac conditions

Through application to practice, students will develop the necessary evidence-based knowledge, attitudes and skills to make a safe and effective contribution to the care and management of cardiac patients across the continuum of care.

Module overview

The module covers key areas in the management of cardiac patients including

• The pathophysiology and epidemiology of cardiac disease
• Cardiovascular risk,  assessment and prevention
• The clinical investigation of cardiac conditions
• Differential diagnosis  and management of specific acute and long term cardiac conditions  e.g. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), Heart Failure, Arrhythmias   
• Pharmacological  and non-pharmacological management of cardiac conditions
• Cardiac Rehabilitation, self-management and behaviour change   
• Physical, psychological, and social impact of heart disease
• Palliative care and end of life issues in cardiac patients

Learning outcomes

1. Critically review current issues in relation to the provision of care for patients presenting with acute and long term cardiac conditions.

2. Apply the underpinning knowledge  of the pathophysiology relevant to the assessment and management of acute and long term cardiac conditions

3. Apply underpinning knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors to  the  primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease  

4. Analyse critically a range of appropriate tools to undertake a systematic and comprehensive assessment of patients presenting with cardiac problems.

5. Analyse critically the  local  care provision  for patients with acute and long term cardiac conditions in relation to the current research,  national standards and guidelines

6. Identify and develop strategies to evaluate and monitor the patients’ response to pharmacological, non-pharmacological and self-management interventions relevant to the specific management of patients with cardiac disorders.

7. Appraise social, psychological and  palliative care issues which may affect this client group  and analyse their implications on the patients and the family

Assessment strategy

The module assessment is in the form of a 4,500 word essay focussing on the care of a cardiac patient 

Module requirements

To undertake this module, students must be involved in the care of cardiac patients within either the acute or community setting

Module contact

For further information, please contact the School of Health Sciences
Telephone: +44(0)1382 388534
Email: nursing-health-postqualifying@dundee.ac.uk