Current Perspectives in Cardiovascular Disease module (PN50125)

SCQF Level: 11 (Masters Degree)
SCQF Credits: 30
Total student effort: 300 hours

Available: September and January

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, work based learning and additional educational support through My Dundee (the University virtual learning environment). Access to My Dundee offers you easy access to web resources and documents needed for your 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 you to:

• explore the prevention, diagnosis, acute and long term management of common cardiac conditions
• develop and apply underpinning  knowledge, skills and attitudes at an advanced level to the management of patients with acute and long term cardiac conditions

Through application to practice, you 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

• critically review current issues in relation to the provision of care for patients presenting with acute and long term cardiac conditions.
• analyse critical knowledge and understanding of pathophysiology to support assessment and advanced clinical decision-making appropriate to advanced practice within acute and long term cardiac conditions
• critically evaluate underlying cardiovascular risk factors and integrate these within the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease  
• critically appraise and synthesise sources of information when undertaking a systematic and comprehensive assessment of patients presenting with cardiac problems, in order to respond appropriately to results from assessment and diagnostic investigations.
• critically evaluate and apply relevant research, national standards and guidelines to local care provision for patients with acute and long term cardiac conditions
• interpret and critically evaluate the patients’ response to pharmacological, non-pharmacological and self-management interventions relevant to the management of patients with specific cardiac disorders.
• debate critically the 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 assessment strategy allows students to apply critical thinking to their own area of clinical practice and consists of one assignment, namely; 3000-word written summative assignment in the form of a case study of a patient with an acute or long-term cardiac condition.

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