New Critical Care course will make positive difference to practitioners’ day to day roles, say delegates
20 July 2021
The School of Medicine’s Critical Care team has delivered a CPD online course on the rehabilitation of the critically ill, gaining excellent feedback from attendees.
The first in a new suite of Critical Care CPD courses took place in June, providing the multidisciplinary cohort with vital additional skills and knowledge in caring for patients recovering from critical illness. The course was devised during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. HEIW and Cardiff University identified the need to upskill both critical care and non-critical care staff in Wales at a time when primary healthcare workers were dealing with an increase in critically ill patients, caused by COVID-19.
This was a self-directed learning course, delivered online and designed to fit in with delegates’ demanding work commitments, which have been even more challenging during the pandemic. Learning materials were available for one week, allowing delegates to access their learning flexibly. There was online support from the Critical Care delivery team throughout the week, and discussion forums were used so that attendees could ask questions and interact with both the course team and their fellow delegates.
Donna Crimmins, Nurse Manager Complete Care, Cardiff and Vale UHB commented:
I thoroughly enjoyed this course; I have learnt a lot and have been doing this a long time. Content was extremely interesting and useful; a very well delivered course. Anybody new to critical care should do this course.
Thirty-one healthcare workers took part, including nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, generating interesting conversations from professionals with a wide variety of skills and healthcare backgrounds. 100% of delegates rated the course as excellent or good, and 100% also told us the course content would make a positive difference to their day to day roles. 60% of respondents are interested in taking their professional development further, whether undertaking the Critical Care MSc, standalone modules from the MSc or attending the other Critical Care courses in the series.
Sharon Norman, Programme Lead for the MSc Critical Care reflected:
Rehabilitation of the critically ill patient is not an afterthought and should begin early in the patient’s critical care journey. In a time where multidisciplinary critical care staff, new and old, join forces to provide a multidisciplinary approach to critical care for seriously ill patients, it is important to remember that critical illness has a long-term effect for patients as they recover. This CPD module offers the opportunity to understand and reflect on current practices, explore innovative management theories and ensure the patient is at the heart of evidence-based practice.
The remaining two courses in the series are introductions to Sepsis and Organ Donation. These are open for bookings and will run in September and October 2021.
Following the positive feedback received from the first cohort, the Critical Care team are now exploring splitting the Rehabilitation of the Critically Ill programme into two separate courses, each run over one week. This would allow for greater depth of learning and increased understanding of this vital subject.
Contact us
If you would like more information about the MSc in Critical Care, or the modules available to study on a standalone basis, visit the course page, or feel free to contact us. Bookings are now open for the short courses on Sepsis and Organ Donation.
