Emergency and Critical Care in Clinical Practice

Why study Emergency and Critical Care in Clinical Practice at BNU?

• Specialise in Emergency Care: Learn about emergency care including emergency departments, intensive care units, and pre-hospital care environments. You will explore the assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute medical and surgical emergencies, as well as the provision of advanced life support techniques.
• Demonstrate your proficiency: You’ll analyse the pathophysiology of common medical and surgical emergencies and the impact on patients across the lifespan. Demonstrate proficiency in advanced resuscitation management techniques and interventions throughout the course. 
• Reflect and collaborate across departments: We will critically reflect on ethical, legal, and professional considerations in emergency and critical care medicine, and study how to effectively collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, demonstrating effective leadership, supervision and coordination of care for critically ill or injured patients.

What facilities can I use?

You will have access to the university facilities as a student of BNU, which entitles you to some benefits, such as access to our 24/7 library with free study space and free laptop loans. Our AppsAnywhere service provides you with online access to the software you need to complete the course.

As a student of BNU you will have access to our student union, with free trips, societies and events for you to get involved in. We also have support services such as counselling, cost of living support, free laptop loans and CV writing. Our new restaurant serves food with a discounted rate and is only open to students and staff.

What will I study?

What we will study fit broadly into 4 considerations, which are outlined below, with various topics included in each:

Introduction to Emergency and Critical care

• Triage and assessment of acutely ill or injured patients
• Emergency organisation and management
• Clinical decision-making in the emergency setting
• Medicolegal and ethical issues
• Safeguarding and protection of vulnerable people
• End-of-life care 
• Managing complex and challenging situations

Acute Medical and Surgical Emergencies

• Cardiac emergencies
• Respiratory emergencies
• Neurological emergencies
• Trauma emergencies
• Surgical emergencies
• Toxidromes
• Management of sepsis and multi-organ failure
• Mental health emergencies and acute behavioural disturbance

Advanced Life Support

• Basic and advanced life support algorithms
• Airway management
• Management of shock and hemodynamic instability
• Cardiac arrest and traumatic cardiac arrest
• Emergency procedures
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Sedation, analgesia, and mechanical ventilation

In the context of emergency and critical care:

• Providing clinical leadership of multi-professional teams
• Support, supervision and education of juniors and peers
• Delivering key procedural skills

How will I be taught and assessed?

Lectures cover foundational knowledge required to progress through the module. Seminars engage in case-based discussions, relevant evidence, and associated presentations. 

Some of the ways you will be assessed include: 

• Summative assessments
• Eportfolios
• Patient log, mini-Cex, CBDs and DOPs completed by seniors. 

OSCEs examine a variety of patient presentations across the age ranges and systems to assess students' holistic management skills.