This unit aims to prepare staff to safely and effectively care for the anaesthetic patient.  Building on students’ existing academic and clinical skills, this unit will contextualise their current capabilities within the specialised area of anaesthetic care. Students will have learning opportunities to develop insight and understanding of their responsibilities when working in this area of care. A key focus is developing clinical competence to a recognised national standard, enabling students to coordinate and deliver safe and high-quality care for the anaesthetic patient.

Students must have a placement arrangement in the anaesthetic area after the theory block.

Indicative unit content

• National guidelines for anaesthetic practice
• Legal and ethical practice in anaesthesia
• Individual considerations of physical and psychological well-being of anaesthetic patients
• The Anaesthetic Workplace: safe practice within a safe environment
• Types, purpose, and function of anaesthetic devices and equipment
• Safety and management of anaesthetic devices and equipment Types of Anaesthesia: principles and practices
• Anatomy & physiology related to anaesthesia: concepts and application
• Methods and techniques for checking physiological parameters
• Medical gasses: principles, policy and procedures for use
• Venous and arterial access
• Airway management
• Management of medicines
• Commonly used pharmacology within anaesthetic care
• Pathophysiology of the anaesthetic patient
• Intraoperative pain management
• Management of anaesthetic/surgical induced altered physiology
• Advanced airway management
• Invasive monitoring

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

Having completed this unit the student is expected to:

1. Safely and effectively undertake the role of the anaesthetic practitioner in the care of the anaesthetic patient.
2. Assess and implement care of the anaesthetic patient in a number of specialist areas.
3. Demonstrate humanised, patient‑centred, and safe anaesthetic care.
4. Apply their understanding of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and clinical knowledge to the context of anaesthetic care.

Learning and teaching methods

The unit will be delivered through seminars, practice skills, groups discussions, tutorials, and practice-based learning.  Thirty hours of contact time will be provided but students will also be expected to undertake self-managed learning.

Assessment

Formative assessment/feedback

Formative assessment will be provided through self-marking quizzes, case study scenarios, ongoing feedback from Practice Supervisor in clinical practice and regular feedback/ feedforward discussions.

Summative assessment

• ILOs 1 to 3 will be assessed by a practice portfolio  (Pass/Fail)
• ILO 4 will be assessed by an online exam (100%)

Students must pass both elements of the assessment

Indicative assessment

• ILO 1 to 3 will be assessed in anaesthetic practice with a clinical practice portfolio demonstrating skill competency (Pass/Fail).
• ILO 4 will be assessed by an unseen online exam.