7A002E - Emergency and Acute Presentations - The Undifferentiated Patients 01 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2033 | Version 0
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | 7A002E | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Emergency and Acute Presentations - The Undifferentiated Patients | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Life Sciences and Education | ||
| Faculty Group: | Nursing and Allied Health | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Nursing and Allied Health | ||
| Module Leader: | Karl New | ||
| Module Team: | |||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2027 | Final Year of Intake: | 2032 |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 20 | Credit Level: | 7 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | 100258 - clinical physiology | ||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | 100 | ||
Document Version Information
| Version | 0 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Sep 2027 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2033 |
Module Aims
The main aims of the module are:
To develop advanced presentation-based clinical reasoning aligned to the undifferentiated-patient approach of emergency medicine practice.
To critically examine the investigation and evidence-based management of high-risk and high-frequency emergency presentations across major body systems.
To apply systematic approaches to diagnostic uncertainty, including the interpretation of investigations, imaging, and risk stratification tools, to support safe clinical decision-making in emergency settings.
Content Summary
This module develops the advanced clinical reasoning skills required to assess and manage patients who present to the emergency department without a clear diagnosis. Using a presentation-based approach, students will learn to work systematically from symptoms and signs towards safe, evidence-based management decisions in high-pressure and uncertain clinical environments.
Students will explore common and high-risk emergency presentations across cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, gastrointestinal, endocrine, renal, and infectious disease domains. The module covers conditions such as chest pain, breathlessness, stroke, sepsis, abdominal pain, and metabolic emergencies, while helping students develop expertise in diagnostic reasoning, risk stratification, investigation interpretation, and safety-netting. Particular emphasis is placed on recognising atypical presentations, avoiding diagnostic error, and managing diagnostic uncertainty.
This module strengthens students’ ability to assess the undifferentiated patient safely and confidently. It provides a critical bridge between the foundational principles of emergency medicine and the more advanced trauma, resuscitation, and critical care components of the course.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 40 |
| Independent Study | 80 |
| Directed Study | 40 |
| Problem/Challenge based learning | 40 |
| Total Hours Selected | 200 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Critically synthesise advanced pathophysiological knowledge across multiple domains to construct systematic, presentation-based clinical reasoning frameworks for undifferentiated patients |
| LO2 | Critically evaluate the diagnostic process in emergency medicine to formulate, justify, and communicate safe and effective management decisions for complex, undifferentiated patients. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Case study | N/A | 0 | 2500 | 40 | No | 40 |
| Asynchronous Assessment | Project | N/A | 0 | 100 | 20 | No | 40 |
| Asynchronous Assessment | Self Reflective Assessment 1 | N/A | 0 | 600 | 10 | No | 40 |
| Synchronous Online Assessment | Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Online) | N/A | 60 | N/A | 30 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Case study | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Project | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Self Reflective Assessment 1 | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Online) | ✔ | ✔ | |