Delivering Complex Care

RATIONALE

Health and care services are facing ever-increasing demands from an ageing population who are living longer with substantial and ongoing healthcare needs. The increasing numbers of service users with complex needs and often multiple long-term conditions is an ongoing challenge for health and social care services.

Prevention, delaying onset and slowing the progression of long-term and complex conditions are all important outcomes for health care services. Other important outcomes include quality of life and positive experience related to independence, choice, dignity and control. Nurses need to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the holistic care of service users who have complex, long-term health care needs, such as living with chronic physical and/or mental health problems

AIMS

This module aims to facilitate the development of knowledge and skills in relation to the holistic, patient-centered care of service users with complex and long-term care needs. Students will be encouraged to consider the experience of the individual and their family in disease trajectory across the lifespan together with the associated health and care needs

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to:

1. Reflect on the lived experience of the person with complex and/or long-term conditions and their journey through the age continuum.

2. Critically appraise the role of the nurse in partnership and interagency working to support and promote the health and wellbeing of individuals with complex and/or long-term conditions.

3. Critically appraise the nurse’s role in the assessment and management of the care of people with complex and/or long-term conditions in different settings and as they move between different services.

4. Explore the pathophysiology of long-term conditions and the implications for nursing care.

5. Critically appraise the role of the nurse in maintenance of psychosocial well-being and the recognition of deterioration in service users with complex and/or long-term conditions.