Health sciences in practice
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This work-based course develops your understanding of the science underpinning your professional practice skills. You’ll learn IT skills necessary to operate effectively in the modern workplace and numerical skills to carry out the calculations required in your job with accuracy and confidence. The course also explains the regulations and science for safe working, enabling you to become a safer practitioner. Effective teamwork and communication are vital in healthcare and the course will help you improve your proficiency in these areas. Finally, you’ll develop your problem-solving skills, and learn how to make evidence-based decisions. This course is only open to students supported by their employer and studying one of our healthcare qualifications.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Science.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | S110 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 6 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| 2 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
This course is the Level 1 work-based learning module for the Foundation Degree in Paramedic Sciences (G11)/Diploma of Higher Education in Paramedic Sciences (E52), the Foundation Degree in Health Sciences (G12)/Diploma of Higher Education in Health Sciences (E49), the Foundation Degree in Operating Department Practice (G19)/Diploma of Higher Education in Operating Department Practice (E58) and the Certificate of Higher Education in Healthcare Sciences (K06).
If you want to improve both your transferable and basic practical skills, and underpin them with theoretical knowledge, then this course is for you. The health area, and particularly the NHS, is a complex and rapidly changing working environment, and the skills escalator has outlined clear progression pathways for everyone within it. Health sciences in practice takes your existing skills and builds on them to allow you to approach new tasks and responsibilities with confidence. It uses your workplace as a teaching arena, and guides you through activities that you will undertake there in a way that makes them relevant to you, your present job, and the job that you aspire to have.
Unit 1 teaches basic skills in information technology and allows you to carry out tasks comfortably no matter how much or little use you have previously made of computers in your workplace. Using the Open University’s virtual learning environment, you’ll start to think about your long-term goals and your personal development plan, and you’ll start to build a portfolio of evidence of your knowledge and skills. This portfolio will be relevant throughout your working life, and you can keep it on the OU’s server, and add to it, even after you have completed your studies.
Unit 2 concerns number skills. Many people have an irrational fear of numbers, and the unit takes you step by step through all the basics of scientific numeracy, starting with basic arithmetic, through fractions and decimals and how to manipulate them. It deals with percentages, dilutions and ratios, and brings you to a level where you can confidently tackle more advanced mathematical applications such as basic statistics and drug calculations. All the examples used are firmly grounded in situations that will be familiar to you from your work.
Unit 3 focuses on health and safety issues. It describes the legislation and the science underlying it. Health and safety can be a rather dry subject, but here it is brought to life by interactive exercises that teach the basics of risk assessment, hazard perception and waste disposal. The unit explores the issues surrounding the use of medical devices, and explains the need for (and the methods used in) infection control. Health and safety matters are of the utmost importance to everyone in a health setting.
Unit 4 explores the key skills of communication and team working. It outlines the features of communication, and describes how they can be used to improve understanding between parties in a variety of situations: breaking bad news, communicating essential facts in an emergency, and communicating within a team. You are taught the importance of, and what constitutes, good communication and are encouraged to improve your communication skills in your workplace.
Unit 5 is about collecting and synthesising evidence from a number of sources, and using this evidence to solve clinical problems. The importance of collating several lines of evidence is brought out by the use of the interactive DVD-ROM, Digital Dummy. This is an electronic version of the manikin used to teach resuscitation skills to emergency operatives, and gives you insight into the respiratory and cardiovascular systems of the human body. Further electronic and text-based scenarios give you the opportunity to address common health issues, to collect relevant data, and to use it to begin to make clinical decisions.
Unit 6 is where what you have learnt from this course up to this point comes together. You are asked to visit an unfamiliar work environment and to carry out an analysis of aspects that are important to you. You’ll write a report on this exercise, and this will form part of the final assessment.
Vocational relevance
Health sciences in practice will be attractive to anyone wishing to advance their career in the area of health sciences. It builds on your existing skills and allows you to develop them further in line with National Occupational Standards, the Knowledge and Skills Framework, and Health Professions Council Competency statements. It is equally relevant for people working in the NHS and in the private sector.
Entry
S110 is not available as a stand-alone course. It is only available to students who are supported in the workplace by their employer and studying it as a module of the:
- Foundation Degree in Paramedic Sciences (G11)/Diploma of Higher Education in Paramedic Sciences (E52)
- Foundation Degree in Health Sciences (G12)/Diploma of Higher Education in Health Sciences (E49)
- Foundation Degree in Operating Department Practice (G19)/Diploma of Higher Education in Operating Department Practice (E58)
- Certificate of Higher Education in Healthcare Sciences (K06).
To register for this course:
- you should be employed for a minimum of two days per week in a relevant job in the health sector
- your employer must agree to support you throughout your studies, and to arrange any practice placements necessary for you to develop skills fitting you for autonomous practice as specified by the relevant professional body.
We recommend that you study S110 alongside Introducing health sciences: a case study approach (SDK125), which teaches you more of the theory that you will need to support your practice, but you can study SDK125 first if you wish.
Important additional information about S110, including its registration requirements, can be found on the Work-based learning qualifications website.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Outside the UK
Currently there are no plans to offer this course outside the UK.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and musical notation and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting your needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Course guide, course text supplied as loose-leaf sheets and a ring binder to keep them in; The Good Study Guide, two DVD-ROMs, a website.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have an OU tutor whom you will meet face to face twice during the course. At other times you can contact your tutor via email or by phone, and many of the tutorial activities will take place online. Your OU tutor is responsible for your academic development, and will answer questions about academic, course-related matters. Additionally you will have a workplace mentor, supplied by your employer, who will look after your needs and guide you in the workplace, and will foster and assess your skills development.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
The end-of-module assessment (EMA) requires you to write a report, submit an electronic portfolio that you will have developed through the course, and achieve ‘competent practice’ level for competences appropriate to your profession.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in November 2012. We expect it to be available once a year.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Science.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | S110 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 6 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| 2 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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