Expand+This module focuses on the central concepts of care that underpin specialist practice in complex care for children and their families. The module is designed to enhance the nurses understanding of the emerging speciality of complex care delivery. Thi...

Hide-This module focuses on the central concepts of care that underpin specialist practice in complex care for children and their families. The module is designed to enhance the nurses understanding of the emerging speciality of complex care delivery. This will include exploration of the organisation of health services for this population, factors influencing care delivery in this area including the role of technology, the organisation of care services for this population and issues pertaining to quality care and clinical governance.

The module runs over 12 weeks and there are four units in the module:

Complexity in Clinical Care: This unit will focus on understanding the concept of complexity in the clinical care of children. Students will explore the various meanings of this concept internationally and the various approaches to the organisation of health services for this population.

The Role of Technology in Palliative / Complex Care: This unit will explore the use of technology in supporting children and adolescents with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses. This will include discussion on ethical considerations in the NICU/PICU and the role of the multi-disciplinary team in supporting parents/guardians through critical conversations on care delivery.

Transitioning to home: Focusing on theories of transitioning this unit will explore the needs of the child and their family at the point of discharge to home from the acute care services. This will include exploration of the key constituents of a successful discharge to home including: planning and preparedness of parents/guardians for the clinical care needs of their child; structured discharge trials; negotiation of homecare packages and issues of equity of access; and the roles and responsibilities of the various members of the multidisciplinary team.

Managing care delivery in the home: This unit of the module will explore the structures and processes necessary for optimum care delivery to the child with complex care needs and their family in their home. This will include addressing: issues pertaining to clinical governance in the home; standards of care – international best practice; care coordination; approaches to measuring and enhancing quality care for children with complex care needs in the community.