For further information:Tel No: 023 8059 8295
E-mail: k.roberts@soton.ac.uk
Module leader: Annabel Smoker
Rationale for Development of the Curriculum
This module has been developed at the request of a major national stakeholder in the provision of skin care services, the Skin Care Campaign and with the support of the Department of Health’s Long Term Conditions Workforce Group (Dermatology). The lack of knowledge around skin care issues in primary care (particularly amongst nurses and doctors) has been acknowledged but not tackled on a national basis (Associate Parliamentary Group on Skin, 2002). This module aims to provide primary care nurses and health visitors with the opportunity to develop introductory knowledge of the theory and practice of skin care and to promote skin health in their practice arenas. Whilst attention will be given to the commonly seen dermatological conditions in primary care, the focus is on promoting skin health and preventing skin disease and their consequences. The course does not aim to develop dermatology specialists although it recognises that, having studied at this level, some nurses may well go on to develop more specialist skills.
Extensive stakeholder consultation was undertaken prior to developing the curriculum. This was used to establish:
(a) what topics should form part of the course content and
(b) the most appropriate method of course delivery for the target audience.
Mentor in Practice Required: YES
This module requires you to identify a suitable mentor from your broad practice area, who is responsible for supporting your learning in practice and providing supervision and assessing your practice competence.
Target Audience/Profile:
The main target audience is registered nurses and health visitors working in primary care. However it is recognised that others (e.g. liaison nurses, school nurses, occupational health nurses) might want to undertake the module. Some may find it useful to take this as a module forming part of a degree or diploma programme. Details of these programmes are available on request.
General Aim/Purpose of Module:
To provide community nurses with an opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills relevant to:
• promoting skin health;
• managing the psychological and physical impacts of skin disease;
• understanding the context with in which skin care services are provided and used.
These issues will be explored within the context of the most common skin conditions seen in primary care (Williams, 1997).
Assessment Strategy:
To help students develop their learning and prepare for formal course assessment, they will be given a self-directed workbook covering core module content with learning tasks to complete, including reference to specific further reading and other learning resources. This element will be geared towards encouraging students to gather information that will inform practice and service delivery and that will prepare them for completion of their clinical portfolio (see below). They will complete it with the assistance of a mentor in practice. It is envisaged that this mentor will be a nurse with dermatology experience and an awareness of primary care issues.
Summative assessment (A clinical portfolio 3000 words with practice competences)
The clinical portfolio is designed to enable the student to present evidence to support the achievement of the learning outcomes. Practice competencies will be assessed by the student’s appointed and approved mentor as part of this portfolio, using a pro forma.
On successful completion the student would be awarded 20 credits at Level 2 (diploma level) or Level 3 (degree level).
The module will be divided up into 4 main learning units.
Promoting skin health through knowledge of:
Awareness of the impact of skin disease on psycho-social well being through understanding:
Understanding the physical impact of skin disease and use of common therapeutic interventions through knowledge of:
Awareness of the environments for skin care delivery and user pathways:
It is envisaged that the course will take place over a period of approximately 6 months. During this time a mixture of teaching and learning methods will be used:
• Self directed distance learning using a workbook.
• Lectures from specialists in the field to be given at a local University. It is envisaged that there will be s minimum of two half day study days and one full day study day.
• Access to the University’s web based learning resources.
Future plans
This course has received academic accreditation from the University of Southampton . The first course is likely to be ready for delivery in mid-late 2004 in Southampton . There are plans to promote wider access to this course nationally through other Higher Education institutes. The course will commence in September 2004. Details of dates can be confirmed on request, as soon as they are available.
References:
Associate Parliamentary Group on Skin 2002 Report on the Enquiry into primary care dermatology services London : APG
Williams HC 1997 Dermatology: Health care needs assessment Oxford : Radcliffe Medical Press
Sponsorship:
For those organisations wishing to sponsor staff to participate in this module, please contact:
K. Roberts (tel. 023 8059 8295, email k.roberts@soton.ac.uk)
Dr S J Ersser (tel. 023 8059 7971, email S.J.Ersser@soton.ac.uk)
School website: www.nursingandmidwifery.soton.ac.uk
