Skin Integrity Skills and Treatment

About the course

The MSc Skin Integrity Skills & Treatment is a taught programme for health professionals wishing to develop or extend practical skills, knowledge and experience in wound management and skin integrity.

It has an emphasis on developing practical competencies; good diagnostic skills, appropriate and timely management of common wounds and skin integrity problems.

This programme is supplemented by lectures, seminars, workshops, clinical skills demonstrations, clinical placements and conference presentations by academic staff and invited expert clinicians.

Why choose this course?

• Focus on clinical skills
• Practical Emphasis
• Classroom taught lectures
• Small class sizes
• Regular small group seminars and tutorials
• Choice of modules
• Personal tutor support
• Excellent networking and peer support
• Consistently positive student feedback
• Specifically designed to support overseas graduates

Course Content

Clinical lectures focus on the principles of promoting skin integrity in patients of all ages. The programme has an emphasis on the following:

• Maintenance of skin integrity
• Chronic wound management
• Inflammatory skin conditions
• Psychodermatology
• Research methods in wound care
• Evidence based practice and treatment protocol
• Change and Project management

Course Structure

• The MSc Skin Integrity Skills & Treatment comprises of 6 taught modules (30 credits each) of 12 weeks duration.
• Successful completion of the programme leads to award of an MSc Skin Integrity Skills & Treatment. Achievement of a Postgraduate Diploma in Skin Integrity Skills & Treatment is possible for those who are unable to complete the final dissertation project.
• A minimum of 2 specialist optional modules (60 credits) must be studied plus 2 compulsory core modules (60 credits). The remaining credits may be selected from optional modules of common interest.

Programme of Study 

• The programme is offered on a modular basis, each module is assessed
• Progression depends on successful completion of existing modules   
• The programme comprises of 4 compulsory and 2 elective specialist modules 

Example of Full Time MSc Skin Integrity Skills & Treatment (September Start)

Full Time Programme

• Semester A (Oct - Jan): Skin Integrity & Tissue Repair; Evidence Based Practice; Common Core Medical Practice
• Semester B (Jan - May): Chronic Skin Diseases; Clinical Practice in Action
• Semester C (Jun - Sept): Health Disciplines Project

It cannot be guaranteed that all modules/short courses are offered in any particular academic year. If a module is not available a suitable alternative will be provided.

A part time route is available for Home / EU students which usually comprises of a programme of study that includes 30 credits per semester. Students have up to 5 years to complete the 180 credits required to complete this masters course.  

Modular Structure

Optional specialist modules (30 credits each)

• Skin Integrity & Tissue Repair (Oct - Jan 2014)
• Enhancing Skin Integrity Skills (Jun - Sept 2014)
• Business Skills for Clinicians (Oct - Jan 2013)
• Consolidating Specialist Practice (Jun - Sept 2014)

Optional modules common interest (30 credits each)

• Clinical Practice in Action 2 (Oct - Jan 2013, Feb - May 2014)
• Leadership in Practice (Feb - May 2014)
• Health and Medical Education in the Workplace

Compulsory core modules (30 credits each)

• Evidence Based Practice (Oct - Jan 2013, Feb - May 2014)
• Health Disciplines Practice (Oct - Jan 2013, Feb - May 2014, Jun - Sept 2014) 

Why choose this course?

Summary

Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent): MSc UK 180/ECTS 90. PG Diploma UK 120/ECTS 60.

Awarding Institution: University of Hertfordshire

Offered By: School of Life Sciences: Postgraduate Medicine

Location: College Lane Campus, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9AB

Programme Duration: 1 year FT, October to the following September OR February to the following Janauary.

Intake: October 10 places. February 10 places

Fees:  FT Overseas: £10,500 (2013/14) PT Home / EU students £880 per 30 credit module  

Contact: Madeleine Flanagan Programme Leader

0044 (0) 1707 286400 (Office) 0044 (0) 7736 660584 (Mobile)

m.flanagan@herts.ac.uk 

Study Routes

• Full Time or Part Time (Home / EU students only).
• Duration of the Full Time programme is 1 year. Duration of the Part Time programme is up to a maximum of 5 years.

Study routes

• Part Time, 5 Years
• Full Time, 1 Years

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

This programme offers excellent opportunities for continuing professional development for practicing health professionals. It is an MSc programme, but UK clinicians can choose to study specific modules relevant to their professional practice as short courses.

International students should note that completion of this course does not lead to registration to practice in the UK. This programme may be sufficient for clinician’s to work as specialist practitioners in their country of origin, but local requirements should be checked prior to commencing the programme.  

Teaching methods

You will experience a wide variety of teaching methods throughout the programme including: interactive and ‘key-note’ lectures, seminars and workshops incorporating for example case studies, role play, scenario based learning and discussion groups covering a wide variety of topics. Individual and group based tutorials. Supervised practice placements in specialist  skin integrity settings, skills based demonstrations / workshops and the use of technologies for example video, podcasts, and other e-packages designed to enhance learning and teaching. These resources are supported by a well stocked learning resource centre and via a virtual learning environment called StudyNet which enables you to access learning resources on line 24 hours and day, 7 days a week.  The course is intense and will require students to be "self directed" learners. 

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

Optional

• Business Skills for Clinicians

  Specialist practitioners spend a considerable amount of time developing and managing clinical services. This module is designed for health professionals who want an introduction to business planning, marketing and project management skills. It will allow them to consider the impact that the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry has on clinical practice and contemporary healthcare delivery and will help develop business awareness in the context of healthcare. No prior academic knowledge of the subject is assumed.

• Chronic Skin Conditions

  This module enables health professionals to develop enhanced knowledge and practical skills to improve the quality of clinical care for people with chronic skin disorders. It is suitable for Practitioners with a Special Interest in dermatology (PwSI) who want to consolidate their diagnostic skills and examine the best available evidence to support treatment of commonly occurring chronic dermatological conditions for example eczema, psoriasis. This course focuses on managing the delivery of appropriate dermatology care in the primary and secondary care setting and promoting health and self help for patients with skin conditions.

• Consolidating Specialist Practice

• Contemporary Issues in Western Medical Acupuncture

  Analytical reflection on practice. Information retrieval from a variety of sources. Methods of information dissemination.

• Enhanced Skin Integrity Skills

  This module is usually delivered at an international conference using the University Conference Model using key plenary sessions from the scientific programme supplemented by a combination of lectures / discussions and blended learning using the internet to enable health professionals to critically appraise factors contributing to maintenance of skin integrity. It enables health professionals to consolidate and further develop specialist skills in the arena of professional, contemporary skin and wound management practice and will consider practice development from an international perspective. It will enable healthcare professionals to analyse concepts of advanced practice in relation to their own clinical setting. This module supports a range of international practice development initiatives that will raise awareness of the importance of maintaining skin integrity in vulnerable patients.

• Evidence Based Practice - Distance Learning

  Students will construct a research question and search strategy, conduct systematic searches of on-line databases, internet and other sources of information; appraise the evidence base of health and social care practice and interventions through the use of a range of tools; apply and critically explore, through discussion and debate, the contextual factors which influence application of evidence to practice.

• Expert Witness

  This module will prepare students to become expert witnesses within their professional fields. The module provides opportunities to participate in related activities within a court setting and will be taught by appropriately qualified personnel from within the field of law. Students will be supported through their learning using experiential techniques within a court room setting

• Health and Medical Education in the Workplace

  Students will develop their understanding of the nature and process of learning through examination of some of the major theories of learning and related concepts. They will draw upon this understanding to analyse experiences in a workplace context, examining the interrelationship between forms of learning and individual and contextual factors in a given setting. Key concepts and theories examined will include competence-based education and training, experiential learning, informal learning, action learning, cognitive apprenticeship, constructivism, situated learning. Students will develop their understanding of how learning may be supported through a variety of approaches and in a range of contexts. Supporting professional and work-related learning through approaches such as training, tutoring, coaching, mentoring and work shadowing will be examined, and appropriate methods for evaluating these approaches considered. Professional and work-related learning at different levels and in a range of contexts will be explored, including peer learning, workplace training, team leadership, performance management.

• Healthcare Disciplines Project

  The module is designed to enable students to engage in independent study and apply further skills to undertake a substantial project which will be of value to the student's area of work. The project will be an evaluation of an issue related to their professional discipline which will require the student to evaluate critically the relevant literature and conduct a systematic investigation into a practice or professional issue developing new insights and perspectives related to the topic of choice.

• Healthcare Disciplines Project

  The module is designed to enable students to engage in independent study and apply further skills to undertake a comprehensive investigation which will be of value to the student's area of work. The project will be an analysis of an issue related to their professional discipline which will require the student to explore critically the relevant literature and conduct a systematic investigation into a practice or professional issue developing new insights and perspectives related to the topic of choice. Students may use a current or prospective approach.

• Recognition & Management of Skin Lesions

  This module is a compulsory specialist course for the MSc in Dermatology Skills and Treatment. It enables health professionals to develop and consolidate skills in recognition and management of a variety of skin lesions and associated conditions and is suitable for medical and non-medical practitioners from a range of specialties including dermatology, tissue viability, accident and emergency and primary care. Practical skills workshops are run by experienced tutors to provide learner-centred teaching. Proficiency is developed during a period of supervised clinical practice and competency assessed using an observed simulated clinical examination (OSCE).

• Skin Integrity and Tissue Repair

  This applied physiology module uses a combination of lectures / discussions and blended learning using the internet to enable health professionals to critically appraise factors contributing to maintenance of skin integrity. Detailed study of these topics gives practitioners a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in tissue repair and preservation of skin integrity so that they can apply this knowledge to influence clinical practice. The dynamic and multi-factorial nature of physiological influences on skin integrity will be emphasised as will the limitations of adequate scientific evidence to support this specialist area. Natural science approaches will be explored including analysis, interpretation, presentation and reporting of quantitative data.

• The Mind and the Skin

  This module will consider the link between mental health and well being and skin disease. In this context it will evaluate a range of therapeutic approaches currently used to provide support for the mental well being of patients with skin diseases in a patient-centred holistic way. It will provide students with the opportunity to examine how interpersonal skills are used to promote therapeutic communication with individuals with skin disease. To achieve the intended learning outcomes, students will study: - The importance of assessing the psychological needs of individual patients - A range of therapeutic approaches to support the particular needs of this group of patients. - The impact of interpersonal skills and engagement on therapeutic interventions with patients with skin disease, identification of individual service user needs and the role of carers and multidisciplinary team working. - Students will be encouraged to reflect on their advanced communication skills and awareness of the care environment and its effects on the development of therapeutic patient relationships. - A clear understanding of when specialist referral is required.

• Therapeutics of Skin Conditions

  This module provides relevant, up-to-date knowledge and develops practice skills necessary for caring for patients with dermatological disease. Successful completion will prepare individuals to initiate and / or contribute to dermatology services in your area. It provides management guidance for Practitioners with a Special Interest (PwSIs) and independent prescribers for common skin conditions as well as specialist pharmaceutical knowledge of the systemic and topical drug and non-drug interventions used to treat skin disease and wounds. It will focus on patient empowerment so individuals can learn how to self manage their skin conditions by maximising effective use of prescribed and non-prescribed treatments.

Fees & funding

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply