Course National Diploma in Nursing Science (Operating Theatre)

Each subject below includes its purpose, learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment approach.

Human Anatomy

Stage 1: Foundations

Examine body organisation, musculoskeletal structures and their relationship within human anatomy. The subject develops thoracic structures and abdominal structures, then examines nervous structures and anatomical relationships. Study approved anatomical models and images in a supervised setting.

Learning outcomes

• Explain body organisation and musculoskeletal structures using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving thoracic structures and abdominal structures.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing nervous structures and anatomical relationships.

Main topics

• Body organisation
• Musculoskeletal structures
• Thoracic structures
• Abdominal structures
• Nervous structures
• Anatomical relationships

Practical task

Study approved anatomical models and images in a supervised setting.

Assessment

Submit an annotated anatomy portfolio and identification assessment.

Human Physiology

Stage 1: Foundations

Develop your understanding of human physiology through homeostasis and cardiovascular function. The subject develops respiration and renal function, then examines endocrine regulation and nervous function. Interpret physiological teaching data and supervised non-invasive demonstrations.

Learning outcomes

• Explain homeostasis and cardiovascular function using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving respiration and renal function.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing endocrine regulation and nervous function.

Main topics

• Homeostasis
• Cardiovascular function
• Respiration
• Renal function
• Endocrine regulation
• Nervous function

Practical task

Interpret physiological teaching data and supervised non-invasive demonstrations.

Assessment

Submit a function-based case analysis and data interpretation.

Microbiology

Stage 1: Foundations

Study microbial diversity and cell function as foundations for microbiology. The subject develops growth concepts and microbial ecology, then examines quality controls and biosafety. Use approved images, datasets and low-risk supervised teaching materials.

Learning outcomes

• Explain microbial diversity and cell function using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving growth concepts and microbial ecology.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing quality controls and biosafety.

Main topics

• Microbial diversity
• Cell function
• Growth concepts
• Microbial ecology
• Quality controls
• Biosafety

Practical task

Use approved images, datasets and low-risk supervised teaching materials.

Assessment

Submit a microbiology portfolio explaining evidence and biosafety limits.

Fundamental Nursing

Stage 1: Foundations

Examine nursing process, person-centred care and their relationship within fundamental nursing. The subject develops basic needs and observation, then examines documentation and infection prevention. Practise approved nursing skills in simulation under qualified supervision.

Learning outcomes

• Explain nursing process and person-centred care using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving basic needs and observation.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing documentation and infection prevention.

Main topics

• Nursing process
• Person-centred care
• Basic needs
• Observation
• Documentation
• Infection prevention

Practical task

Practise approved nursing skills in simulation under qualified supervision.

Assessment

Complete observed skills assessments and a reflective portfolio.

Health Ethics and Professional Practice

Stage 1: Foundations

Develop your understanding of health ethics and professional practice through consent and confidentiality. The subject develops scope of practice and equity, then examines professional accountability and ethical reasoning. Discuss a simulated ethical dilemma with attention to patient rights.

Learning outcomes

• Explain consent and confidentiality using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving scope of practice and equity.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing professional accountability and ethical reasoning.

Main topics

• Consent
• Confidentiality
• Scope of practice
• Equity
• Professional accountability
• Ethical reasoning

Practical task

Discuss a simulated ethical dilemma with attention to patient rights.

Assessment

Submit a justified ethical decision and professional reflection.

Clinical Communication

Stage 1: Foundations

Study listening and plain language as foundations for clinical communication. The subject develops cultural context and shared information, then examines team handover and documentation. Practise communication in supervised simulation using fictional cases.

Learning outcomes

• Explain listening and plain language using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving cultural context and shared information.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing team handover and documentation.

Main topics

• Listening
• Plain language
• Cultural context
• Shared information
• Team handover
• Documentation

Practical task

Practise communication in supervised simulation using fictional cases.

Assessment

Complete an observed communication exercise and reflective record.

General Pathology

Stage 2: Technical and applied subjects

Examine cell injury, inflammation and their relationship within general pathology. The subject develops repair and neoplasia, then examines circulatory disturbances and disease mechanisms. Analyse de-identified teaching cases using approved pathology images.

Learning outcomes

• Explain cell injury and inflammation using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving repair and neoplasia.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing circulatory disturbances and disease mechanisms.

Main topics

• Cell injury
• Inflammation
• Repair
• Neoplasia
• Circulatory disturbances
• Disease mechanisms

Practical task

Analyse de-identified teaching cases using approved pathology images.

Assessment

Submit a mechanism-based pathology report.

Pharmacology

Stage 2: Technical and applied subjects

Develop your understanding of pharmacology through drug action and pharmacokinetics. The subject develops therapeutic classes and adverse effects, then examines interactions and responsible medicine use. Analyse de-identified medicine teaching cases within authorised learner scope.

Learning outcomes

• Explain drug action and pharmacokinetics using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving therapeutic classes and adverse effects.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing interactions and responsible medicine use.

Main topics

• Drug action
• Pharmacokinetics
• Therapeutic classes
• Adverse effects
• Interactions
• Responsible medicine use

Practical task

Analyse de-identified medicine teaching cases within authorised learner scope.

Assessment

Submit a pharmacological reasoning report and knowledge assessment.

Adult Medical and Surgical Nursing

Stage 2: Technical and applied subjects

Study assessment and care planning as foundations for adult medical and surgical nursing. The subject develops common conditions and perioperative care, then examines rehabilitation and continuity. Participate in approved supervised adult-nursing placements.

Learning outcomes

• Explain assessment and care planning using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving common conditions and perioperative care.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing rehabilitation and continuity.

Main topics

• Assessment
• Care planning
• Common conditions
• Perioperative care
• Rehabilitation
• Continuity

Practical task

Participate in approved supervised adult-nursing placements.

Assessment

Submit authenticated care portfolios and observed practice assessments.

Surgical Sciences

Stage 2: Technical and applied subjects

Examine surgical assessment, tissue healing and their relationship within surgical sciences. The subject develops perioperative principles and common surgical conditions, then examines complications and team responsibilities. Use simulation and approved supervised surgical learning appropriate to the programme.

Learning outcomes

• Explain surgical assessment and tissue healing using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving perioperative principles and common surgical conditions.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing complications and team responsibilities.

Main topics

• Surgical assessment
• Tissue healing
• Perioperative principles
• Common surgical conditions
• Complications
• Team responsibilities

Practical task

Use simulation and approved supervised surgical learning appropriate to the programme.

Assessment

Submit case analyses and directly assessed practice evidence.

Perioperative Nursing

Stage 2: Technical and applied subjects

Develop your understanding of perioperative nursing through patient preparation and asepsis. The subject develops theatre roles and intraoperative coordination, then examines recovery and handover. Complete approved theatre and recovery placements under specialist nursing supervision.

Learning outcomes

• Explain patient preparation and asepsis using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving theatre roles and intraoperative coordination.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing recovery and handover.

Main topics

• Patient preparation
• Asepsis
• Theatre roles
• Intraoperative coordination
• Recovery
• Handover

Practical task

Complete approved theatre and recovery placements under specialist nursing supervision.

Assessment

Submit a directly assessed perioperative competence portfolio.

Anaesthesia Technology Support

Stage 2: Technical and applied subjects

Study equipment functions and monitoring interfaces as foundations for anaesthesia technology support. The subject develops technical checks and equipment records, then examines human factors and escalation. Observe approved technical checks under qualified anaesthesia-team supervision.

Learning outcomes

• Explain equipment functions and monitoring interfaces using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving technical checks and equipment records.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing human factors and escalation.

Main topics

• Equipment functions
• Monitoring interfaces
• Technical checks
• Equipment records
• Human factors
• Escalation

Practical task

Observe approved technical checks under qualified anaesthesia-team supervision.

Assessment

Submit a technical-support portfolio. Independent anaesthesia administration is excluded.

Critical Care Nursing

Stage 2: Technical and applied subjects

Examine advanced assessment, organ dysfunction and their relationship within critical care nursing. The subject develops monitoring and complex care planning, then examines family support and team communication. Complete approved adult critical-care placements with specialist supervision.

Learning outcomes

• Explain advanced assessment and organ dysfunction using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving monitoring and complex care planning.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing family support and team communication.

Main topics

• Advanced assessment
• Organ dysfunction
• Monitoring
• Complex care planning
• Family support
• Team communication

Practical task

Complete approved adult critical-care placements with specialist supervision.

Assessment

Pass observed clinical assessments and submit authenticated case evidence.

Quality and Patient Safety

Stage 2: Technical and applied subjects

Develop your understanding of quality and patient safety through care quality and patient experience. The subject develops safety incidents and clinical governance, then examines improvement methods and measurement. Review a de-identified service-quality case using approved data.

Learning outcomes

• Explain care quality and patient experience using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving safety incidents and clinical governance.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing improvement methods and measurement.

Main topics

• Care quality
• Patient experience
• Safety incidents
• Clinical governance
• Improvement methods
• Measurement

Practical task

Review a de-identified service-quality case using approved data.

Assessment

Submit a measurable quality-improvement proposal.

Nursing Unit Management

Stage 3: Supervised practice and integration

Study care organisation and staffing as foundations for nursing unit management. The subject develops delegation and records, then examines quality and professional development. Analyse a nursing-unit case with permissioned or synthetic records.

Learning outcomes

• Explain care organisation and staffing using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving delegation and records.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing quality and professional development.

Main topics

• Care organisation
• Staffing
• Delegation
• Records
• Quality
• Professional development

Practical task

Analyse a nursing-unit case with permissioned or synthetic records.

Assessment

Submit a unit-improvement plan and professional reflection.

Clinical Reasoning and Evidence

Stage 3: Supervised practice and integration

Examine problem representation, differential reasoning and their relationship within clinical reasoning and evidence. The subject develops evidence appraisal and diagnostic uncertainty, then examines referral and reflective practice. Analyse de-identified cases within the approved professional learner role.

Learning outcomes

• Explain problem representation and differential reasoning using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving evidence appraisal and diagnostic uncertainty.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing referral and reflective practice.

Main topics

• Problem representation
• Differential reasoning
• Evidence appraisal
• Diagnostic uncertainty
• Referral
• Reflective practice

Practical task

Analyse de-identified cases within the approved professional learner role.

Assessment

Submit case analyses and an oral reasoning assessment.

Research Methods

Stage 3: Supervised practice and integration

Develop your understanding of research methods through research questions and literature review. The subject develops study design and data collection, then examines ethics and interpretation. Prepare a feasible investigation proposal with a defined evidence need.

Learning outcomes

• Explain research questions and literature review using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving study design and data collection.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing ethics and interpretation.

Main topics

• Research questions
• Literature review
• Study design
• Data collection
• Ethics
• Interpretation

Practical task

Prepare a feasible investigation proposal with a defined evidence need.

Assessment

Submit a proposal, methods rationale and ethics considerations.

Integrated Supervised Clinical Practice

Stage 3: Supervised practice and integration

Study approved clinical roles and care coordination as foundations for integrated supervised clinical practice. The subject develops case reasoning and observed competence, then examines professional feedback and reflection. Complete an approved placement with qualified clinical supervision and authenticated records.

Learning outcomes

• Explain approved clinical roles and care coordination using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving case reasoning and observed competence.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing professional feedback and reflection.

Main topics

• Approved clinical roles
• Care coordination
• Case reasoning
• Observed competence
• Professional feedback
• Reflection

Practical task

Complete an approved placement with qualified clinical supervision and authenticated records.

Assessment

Pass direct clinical assessments and submit a reflective competence portfolio.

Project Development and Feasibility

Stage 3: Supervised practice and integration

Examine problem definition, evidence review and their relationship within project development and feasibility. The subject develops requirements and method selection, then examines feasibility and evaluation criteria. Develop an approved discipline-specific project proposal with a supervisor.

Learning outcomes

• Explain problem definition and evidence review using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving requirements and method selection.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing feasibility and evaluation criteria.

Main topics

• Problem definition
• Evidence review
• Requirements
• Method selection
• Feasibility
• Evaluation criteria

Practical task

Develop an approved discipline-specific project proposal with a supervisor.

Assessment

Submit a proposal, evidence review and evaluation plan.

Integrated Project and Technical Report

Stage 3: Supervised practice and integration

Develop your understanding of integrated project and technical report through implementation and evidence collection. The subject develops analysis and verification, then examines limitations and communication. Complete the approved project and maintain an auditable evidence record.

Learning outcomes

• Explain implementation and evidence collection using an appropriate example.
• Analyse a subject-related problem involving analysis and verification.
• Present reasoned evidence addressing limitations and communication.

Main topics

• Implementation
• Evidence collection
• Analysis
• Verification
• Limitations
• Communication

Practical task

Complete the approved project and maintain an auditable evidence record.

Assessment

Submit the final project, report and individual oral defence.