First year:
You will learn about professionalism, including Health and Care Professions Council standards, legal and ethical factors, equality, diversity, and communication skills. You will learn a range of clinical skills, including scrubbing up, carrying out blood pressure checks, oxygen monitoring, managing airways and performing basic life support. Using our simulation facilities, you will practise these skills on manikin patients.
We also cover anatomy and physiology, including developing an understanding of the respiratory and immune systems. You will learn about safe medication practices as well.
There will be an introduction to the role human factors play in patient safety. You’ll also attend a service users’ conference to hear patients’ experiences of healthcare for their real-world feedback.
Second year:
In your second year, you will explore research methods, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed strategies, as well as data collection and analysis techniques such as questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics will be revisited, emphasising drug administration, legal frameworks, and the management of drug errors. You'll develop enhanced recovery skills, manage deteriorating patients, and address safeguarding, dignity, confidentiality, and human factors in post-anaesthetic care.
The course will cover care across diverse populations, including paediatric, obstetric, bariatric, and geriatric patients, while addressing changing care needs and conditions like musculoskeletal injuries, respiratory, cardiac, and neurological disorders. There will be a focus on end-of-life care, critical care, faith, and LGBTQ+ considerations, alongside evidence-based practice and social/environmental impacts on co-morbidities.
Hands-on skills such as cannulation, ECGs, catheterisation, and invasive monitoring will be taught and developed during clinical placements. You’ll explore ENT anatomy, patient safety initiatives, and difficult airway management. The year also includes a focus on professional development, resilience, conflict resolution, and linking personal wellbeing with professional practice.
Third year:
In your final year, you’ll engage in evidence-based practice, learning to structure literature reviews, understand the hierarchy of evidence, and explore your role in research. Leadership and change management will be key themes, addressing clinical leadership theories, accountability, communication, and teamwork in healthcare settings.
You will focus on theoretical models of learning and teaching, exploring effective mentoring and supervision techniques to prepare you for the transition to qualified professional practice, also covering self-progression strategies like CV writing, interview techniques, and HCPC guidance.
Clinical emergencies, human factors, and the role of the surgical first assistant will be covered, alongside patient safety principles. Your final practice placement will allow you to apply and critically reflect on your skills, enhancing your patient care. Wellbeing topics will include solution-focused therapy, legal and ethical dilemmas, and strategies for personal accountability.
Employability sessions will provide insights on job applications and transitioning from student to registrant, along with service user perspectives on wellbeing and recovery.