Module Information
Module Identifier
NU20520
Module Title
Pathophysiology of common conditions (Adult)
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Summer
Co-Requisite
Reading List
Other Staff
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Care Plan Adult Care plan - verbal report 1500 Words | 25% |
| Semester Assessment | 2 Hours Online Examination | 75% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Care Plan Adult Care plan - verbal report. Students must pass each element at 40% and retake failed elements of the module assessment. 1500 Words | 25% |
| Supplementary Assessment | 2 Hours Online Examination Students must pass each element at 40% and retake failed elements of the module assessment. | 75% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
explain basic anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology in relation to common conditions
demonstrate knowledge of the principles of pharmacology management
explore common disorders and explain how these may impact on individual service users
identify commonly prescribed medicines, administration, monitoring effectiveness and managing side effects and contraindications.
explain the process of patient assessment and diagnosis and understand routine investigations
use a variety of appropriate tools to assess, plan, deliver and evaluate care
Brief description
The focus of this module will be on developing a more advanced understanding of human anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology and how this knowledge informs professional nursing practice and holistic person centred care.
Using a case-based approach we will explore anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology of common disorders and how these impact on individual service users using the ‘virtual family’.
Using a case-based approach we will explore anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology of common disorders and how these impact on individual service users using the ‘virtual family’.
Content
Human body systems:
- Integumentary system
- Nervous system
- Endocrine system
- Cardiovascular system
- Lymphatic system and immunity
- Respiratory system
- Gastrointestinal system
- Muscular Skeletal system
- Urinary system
- Reproductive system
Understanding complex patient assessment, diagnosis, collaborative care planning and evaluation
Commonly prescribed medicines, side effects, contraindications.
Management of field specific conditions
In addition, the module will also focus on further supporting students for clinical practice placements, focusing on:
clinical skill development/maintenance
maintenance of All Wales passports (e.g. Manual Handling/Violence and Aggression) – updating when required
clinical learning requirements
practice supervision
clinical assessments
PAD use/evidencing work-based achievements
- Integumentary system
- Nervous system
- Endocrine system
- Cardiovascular system
- Lymphatic system and immunity
- Respiratory system
- Gastrointestinal system
- Muscular Skeletal system
- Urinary system
- Reproductive system
Understanding complex patient assessment, diagnosis, collaborative care planning and evaluation
Commonly prescribed medicines, side effects, contraindications.
Management of field specific conditions
In addition, the module will also focus on further supporting students for clinical practice placements, focusing on:
clinical skill development/maintenance
maintenance of All Wales passports (e.g. Manual Handling/Violence and Aggression) – updating when required
clinical learning requirements
practice supervision
clinical assessments
PAD use/evidencing work-based achievements
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Adaptability and resilience | This module will build on students’ knowledge of delivering person centred care, by imparting information relating to advanced and complex care systems, which requires skills in understanding the cause and effect on anatomy and physiology from disease and illness. Caring for patients with a wide range of conditions, possibly at varying stages of severity or improvement will require students to continue to be flexible and adaptable in their approach to delivering holistic, person centred care. |
| Co-ordinating with others | In this module, students will continue to be encouraged to explore professional liaison and teamworking, reflecting on the role of differing multidisciplinary members in the care delivery process, especially in relation to complex care situations. Facilitating clinical scenarios will enhance the students’ learning and demonstrate in a real world sense the level of coordination required. |
| Creative Problem Solving | During this module, students will enhance their knowledge of complex field specific nursing, specifically exploring issues regarding nursing adults. Students will be further introduced to more detailed knowledge of specific body systems, and how they are affected by common conditions. In addition, advanced physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology will also be explored. Students will continue to enhance their problem-solving skills by considering these issues through hearing directly |
| Critical and analytical thinking | In complex clinical situations, students will need to develop high level analytical thinking skills in order to deliver best practice, the module will continue to build on students’ abilities in this area. Through lectures, seminars and practicals – involving clinical scenarios and mock run-through sessions/bringing in learnt classroom knowledge with practical applications, students will build on their depth of knowledge and analytical abilities required of an adult field nurse in complex |
| Digital capability | This module will require the students to continue to use/and learn how to: use blackboard/My Progress (E-pad) access lectures remotely and participate accordingly know how to search electronic databases use the library’s electronic catalogue submit work electronically |
| Professional communication | Students will be required to build on their communication skills within this module, as they will be expected to continue to actively participate in discussions and debates. Students will continue to demonstrate their oral and written communication skills by participating in relevant learning activities throughout the module. This module will see students presenting information in a different format, namely by writing case reports and by presenting information via a handover of care. |
| Real world sense | Both theory and practice are equally weighted within nursing curricula, meaning that it is important that classroom subjects are applicable within the practicable nature of the clinical environment, thus giving the taught component a real-world sense. All taught subjects will therefore relate back to clinical practice. Such a requirement will be reflected in this module by active participation of students in mock clinical scenarios and the giving of verbal handover of care. |
| Reflection | Reflection will continue to be promoted within this module, and students will be encouraged to actively participate within their clinical supervision groups; as the module progresses, students will though be encouraged to take control on their reflective groups and guide reflective discussions autonomously |
| Subject Specific Skills | Students will further develop their knowledge and skills in: professional nursing practice in relation to complex field specific nursing advanced anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology detailed body systems and common conditions disease processes symptom management the delivery of person-centred holistic care safe practice |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5