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The Enhancing Paramedic Practice (Top-up) BSc (Hons) will enable registered Paramedics an opportunity to study flexibly in a manner to fit around work and personal commitments. The course has been specifically designed to enhance and develop the ability to comprehensively assess and manage a range of clinical presentations in the out-of-hospital environment, using evidence-based medicine and principles of autonomous practice.
Using key leadership skills, students will recognise how human factors can influence the patient environment and will provide students with the essential knowledge to support practice-based education, underpinned by the development of their research skills and ability to critically analyse current research to apply to their practice. This programme allows access to modules which consider a wide variety of out-of-hospital specific patient presentations and supports the development in professional responsibilities as a registered clinician including leadership, education, human factors and academic research.
Updated 04/07/2024
Highlights
Top up your qualification to a complete BSc (Hons).
Course is delivered predominantly online, with a flexible approach to when and where you study/learn.
Course is delivered by experienced pre-hospital tutors.
Allows access to level 7 academic study in the future.
Opens opportunities of employment outside of ambulance trusts, such as GP surgeries and hospitals.
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Course Content
The BSc (Hons) Enhancing Paramedic Practice Top-up is offered to existing Paramedics aiming to improve on their prehospital skills and knowledge. The course covers a range of clinical presentations and allows for development in leadership, education, human factors and research knowledge and skills.
The mode of delivery is predominantly online and are designed to allow for a flexible approach to learning, which learners will be able to fit around their professional and personal lives to cause minimal disruption and ensure that a healthy work-life balance can be maintained.
Modules are broken down into weekly themes and within those weekly themes you will find pre-recorded content such as bite sized lectures, discussion boards and case studies, this will roughly equate to 4 hours’ worth of online content. These theory elements will be supported by weekly 1-hour tutorials delivered via the collaborate virtual classroom platform and will provide you with an opportunity to ask questions, take part in case/scenario-based discussions, review current evidence and key points from that week’s theme will be recapped
Alongside these compulsory elements there will be opportunity to attend campus for additional activities designed to complement the online materials, whilst these are not compulsory, they will provide the opportunity to further put the theory into clinical situations and take the form of simulation-based activities, study skills and discussion groups – content will vary depending on the module, as well as providing you with the opportunity to interact with your fellow students and tutors in person.
Modules:
PSC3019 Applied Paramedic Research (40 credits) – the purpose of this module is to enable students to understand research methods and be able to apply these to a research project which can be a critical literature review or professional project.
PSC3020 Emergency and Urgent Care for Special Populations (20 credits) – this module enables students to comprehensively manage a range of clinical presentations in the out of hospital environment considering evidence-based medicine and principles of autonomous practice. This module is assessed on campus so will require one day’s attendance at Waterside.
PSC3021 Enhancing Prehospital Resuscitation (20 credits) – the purpose of this module is to enable students to improve their knowledge of the underlying pathophysiology of shock, precipitating conditions of cardiovascular collapse and be able to enhance their current management strategies to prevent deterioration. This module is assessed on campus so will require one day’s attendance at Waterside.
PSC3022 Paramedic Practice Educator (20 credits) – this module is to encompass key issues necessary for health professionals to support the learner whilst in practice-based education to ensure competence and confidence in line with the Paramedic Curriculum guidance (College of Paramedics) and HCPC Standards of Education and Training.
PSC3023 Clinical Leadership and Human Factors (20 credits) – the module enables students to understand and apply clinical leadership skills to reflect the essential need for safe, effective and caring clinical practise. The students will also develop a working knowledge of what human factors are and how they too influence clinical practise.
Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.
All applicants must be a registered healthcare clinician (HCPC, NMC etc.)
A minimum of 100 credits at level 5
Applicants who do not have the required 100 Credits at level 5 through certificated learning but hold an Institute of Health and Care Development (IHCD) Paramedic qualification will be credited with 60 Credits at level 5 if they are employed in contemporary clinical practice. Applicants may also make an additional claim for APEL for a maximum of 40 Credits at level 5 on production of evidence of continuing professional development within the last two years.
2024/25 Tuition Fees
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
2023/24 Tuition Fees
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
You will be required to attend the university for a total of 2 days across the whole programme. There will be other practical days, assessment study days and revision/study sessions that are not compulsory but are recommended.
How is teaching delivered?
Each module will consist of a series of pre-recorded lectures that will be linked to discussion boards and case studies and a weekly live tutorial (that will also be recorded in case you cannot make it) where we will revisit key points and apply the knowledge to case studies.
How will I be assessed?
There are various assessment types for all the modules. They include short answer question (SAQ) exam on campus, a pre-recorded presentation, online VIVA, case-based examinations (which will be face to face), reflective essay, assignment and a literature review.
Will completing this course allow me to register as a Paramedic with the HCPC?
No, although this is for existing registered clinicians, this is a top up and so does not fulfil the requirements of the HCPC and so cannot be used as an option to become a HCPC Paramedic registrant.
This course will provide you with the components to equip you with the required competencies to become a Paramedic registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.