s
Field name / Comments/notes
Title / Paediatric Emergency Care
Code / NA3107
Level / 6
Credit rating / 20
Pre-requisites / Students will normally be:-
Currently registered with nursing and midwifery council (NMC) as RN1 or RN8.
Working in an Accident and Emergency Department – adult or paediatric (A&E) or a Minor Injury Unit (MIU) for a minimum of one year having experience of caring for children within an emergency care environment.
Working for a minimum of 15 hours per week.
Accredited with 120 credits at level 4 and/or recent evidence of successful level 5 work.
Must have access to a mentor who normally has undertaken the ENB 998 or equivalent mentorship preparation. Mentors assessing at level 6 must normally have undertaken the level 6 preparation to assess level 6 students.
Able to gain the clinical experience required to achieve the module learning outcomes or where necessary to gain experience in another clinical area.
Type of module / Extensive over one semester
Aims / By the end of this module students will:-
Be able to critically analyse and evaluate the contributory factors that predispose and influence accidents, minor illness and acute emergency care of children.
Learning outcomes/objectives / By the end of the module students should be able to:-
Critically analyse the epidemiology of childhood (0-16 years) accidents and illness. Illustrating analysis of the physiological and psychological differences between adults and children.
Critically analyse the evidence/research for nursing care and management of children presenting to A&E/MIU who are either acutely ill, seriously injured, have a minor injury or illness and may be behaviourally challenged, presenting with a range of problems.
Critically analyse the pharmacology (0-16) used for paediatric patients undergoing immediate and emergency treatment.
Critically analyse evidence based nursing care of children (0-16 years) relevant to the emergency care environment.
Critically analyse the role of recognition and management of child protection issues relative to children (0-16 years), in the emergency care setting.
Critically analyse the service provision to the child and its family in relation to NSF frameworks/government targets.
Critically analyse the impact of childhood illness/injury and the effect on the family including health promotion and accident prevention in relation to attendance to A&E/MIU.
Critically analyse the emotional, social, ethical, cultural, spiritual needs of the child and their family.
Content /
  1. The nature of childhood accidents and accident prevention in children (0-16).
  2. Anatomy and patho-physiology of children presenting with:-
  • Minor illness
  • Minor injury
  • Acute illness
  • Critically ill child
  • Major (multiple injury) trauma
  • Developmental delay/behavioural difficulties
  1. Prevention of secondary injury/complications following traumatic injury
  2. Surgical emergencies
  3. Care of adolescents and related problems
  4. The child and family’s emotional, psychological, and physiological needs in relation to emergency care
  5. Legal issues of the child in A&E – consent, parameters of practice, protocols, competence and capability
Promotion of effective communication skills between healthcare professionals, children and their families.
Teaching and learning strategies /
  • Problem based learning activities
  • Case studies
  • Simulation exercises
  • Reflective activities
  • Lectures – INAM staff/visiting lecturers
  • Student led seminars
  • Group tutorials specific to module
  • These strategies are offered by shared delivery.

Learning support / Barkin R.M., Rosen P., 1999 Emergency Paediatrics.5thed St Louis: Mosby.
MacGregor J. 2000 Anatomy and Physiology of Children.London: Routledge.
Macnab A.D. Macrae, Henning R. 2001 Care of the Critically ill child.London: Churchill Livingstone.
Miall L. Rudolf M. Levene M. 2003 Paediatrics at a glance.London: Blackwell Publishing.
Jevon P. 2004 Paediatric Advanced Life Support: a Practical guide.London: Butterworth Heineman.
Fawcett B.,B. Featherstone Goddard J. 2004 Contemporary Child care policy and practice.London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Smith L.,V. Coleman, Bradshaw M. 2002Family-centred care: Concept, theory and practice.London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Useful websites.




Assessment tasks / Level 6. 20 credits.
3000 words.
Critically analyse an aspect of the physiological/psychological care of a child you have nursed that demonstrates service provision in relation to current government legislation, for example the national service framework for children 2004.
Accounts for 50%.
Skills: Completion of the level 6 skills ( 1 optional/4 mandatory )
Accounts for 50%.
Students must pass both the assignment and skills at 40% to pass this module.
Brief description of module content and/or aims (maximum 80 words) / This module will provide the student with the specific knowledge and skills to manage and care for a sick or injured child and its family (both major and minor illness and trauma), pertinent to the emergency care setting. It aims to address some of the recommendations of the National Service Framework for children, particularly their right to be are cared for by appropriately trained staff.
Area examination board to which module relates / Undergraduate CPD
Module team/authors/coordinator / Tracie Kendrew (Module leader)
Jill Durrant.
Semester offered, where appropriate / Semester 1
Date of first approval / July 2005
Date of last revision
Date of approval of this version
Version number / 1
Replacement for previous module
Field for which module is acceptable and status in that field / Nursing
Course(s) for which module is acceptable and status in course / Optional/Mandatory
BSc (Hons) Professional Clinical Practice Framework. Nursing Studies.
School home / INaM
External examiner / Lynda Smith