Enhanced Surgical Skills – HEA3056

Overview

This module is an extension of the twelve skills, which were achieved within the Surgical First Assistant’s in Operative Procedures module. Students will be introduced to extended skills as described as the Perioperative Care Collaborative (2018) such as, wound infiltration with local anaesthetic, anatomy of the skin, suture material and needle selection and superficial wound closure, glue, suturing and skin clips, securing of drains, direct diathermy application and surgical knot tying.

This module links with both Surgical First Assistant training and the basic surgical skills courses provided by the Royal College of Surgeons and some local Deaneries, Students must have successfully completed a credit bearing Surgical First Assistant module and have successfully undertaken a Royal College of Surgeons accredited Basic Surgical Skills course prior to commencement of the module. Evidence of these must be submitted as part of the application process.

Further information for the Royal College of Surgeons accredited Basic Surgical Skills course can be obtained from Royal College of Surgeons England, and The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh,

The module will also encompass the legal and professional issues related to extended practice, guidelines, protocols and risk management and data protection.

Module code:	HEA3056
Level:	6
Module credits:	20 Credits
Cost for new students:	£1000 - For 2025/2026 Academic Year

If you are an existing student who is undertaking this module as part of a programme, your fee will have been advised to you by email.

You can also check your fees online. For any queries, please contact [email protected]

If your tuition fee is being paid by a sponsor or you are a sponsor paying a student’s fee, you are required to send a copy of a purchase order to [email protected].

For further guidance please visit: Sponsored students – Edge Hill University

Who is this module for?

The introduction of Surgical First Assistant role within the perioperative workforce has reduced the impact of changes to junior medical staff training and the European Working Time Directive. This has resulted in many theatre practitioners being trained to surgically assist for procedures when medical staff have been unavailable. With the Enhanced Surgical Skills module students will undertake an extended surgical role participating in basic surgical interventions. The module can then be used as a springboard to the MSc Surgical Care Practice.

This module links with both Surgical First Assistant training and the basic surgical skills courses provided by the Royal College of Surgeons and some local Deaneries, Students must have successfully completed a credit bearing Surgical First Assistant module and have successfully undertaken a Royal College of Surgeons accredited Basic Surgical Skills course prior to commencement of the module. Evidence of these must be submitted when completing an application.

Further information for the Royal College of Surgeons accredited Basic Surgical Skills course can be obtained from Royal College of Surgeons England, and The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh,

How will I study?

A range of teaching methods will be utilised including lead lectures, group working, practice-based learning, problem based approaches to learning and directed and self-directed study.

Students will normally undertake this module on an blended format with support from the Virtual Learning Environment. This includes online activities enabling the student to determine existing knowledge and demonstrate further learning via interaction, analysis and dissemination of information.

Attendance sessions are based at St James Manchester

What will I study?

Professional and legal issues linked with an extended role;
Principles of safe wound infiltration with local anaesthetic:
Uses, techniques, risks (contraindications and toxicity);
Common drugs, how they work, effects, factors which inhibit their effects;
Compare speed, duration, dosages/concentrations, mixing of LA drugs;
Use of adrenaline; effects, indications and contraindications.
Principles of knot tying:
One handed and two handed;
Types of knots; square, surgeons, instrument ties, continuous, slip knot, Aberdeen knot;
Factors influencing knot security: type of knot, multi vs mono filament, length of cut ends.
Suture material:
Types of suture material (absorbable/non-absorbable, synthetic/natural, monofilament/multifilament);
Points to consider: tensile strength, absorbable rates, common uses, knots used to secure suture, enzymic digestion, tissue/inflammatory reaction;
Selection of suture: procedure, tissue condition, oedema, diabetes, immune system, infection, tissue types, surgical preference.
Needle selection:
Structure of needles, type of needles; cutting, reverse cutting, taper cut, round bodied.
Superficial wound closure methods:
Factors influencing selection of material for wound closure; layer closure, suture techniques;
Gluing;
skin staples;
suturing including suture methods;
Simple interrupted, vertical/horizontal mattress, subcuticular, continuous.
Secure wound drains:
Wound drainage; types, uses, complications;
Factors affecting securing of drains and technique for securing.
Direct diathermisation:
Safe principles of diathermy and its application.
Anatomy of the skin:
Layers of the skin and their functions.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is in two parts
Coursework 1 – 3000 words. Students to select a patient for whom they have surgically assisted, utilising all the extended skills acquired during this module. Patient factors and decisions on care are rationalised and critically evaluated, taking into account professional boundaries.
100% of the grade awarded is on this element.

Coursework 2 Students should complete Achievement of Practice Assessment Skill Statements and Log Sheets and completion of Unit Worksheets included as a portfolio for review. This is marked as pass/fail.

Both elements must be passed to successfully complete the module.

On successful completion you will:

By the end of this module students will be able to :

• Critically review and undertake clinical practice in relation to the areas covered within this module and the boundaries of the role, to ensure competent practice and high standards of patient care.
• Critically examine the professional and personal responsibilities and liabilities of the practitioner
• Critically analyse the application of extended knowledge and skills and clinical decision-making to all aspects of the advanced role.

Study dates and venues

How to apply

Module availability varies from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Due to the popularity of some modules it may be that the module is fully booked when your application is received. We will include your details on a waiting list and allocate you a place on the next available intake.

Applicants should be aware that the following documents need to be submitted in the document upload section in the application form, when making your application.

• A fully completed HEA3056 Supporting document
• Confirmation of completion of a credit bearing Surgical First Assistant module (Transcript or certificate)
• Confirmation of completion of RCS Basic Surgical Skills Course (Transcript or certificate)

The online application form can be found on the apply page.

Contact us

For further information regarding this module, please contact the School of Allied Health, Social Work and Wellbeing on [email protected]

Pathways

This module can be used as part of the BSc (Hons) Clinical & Professional Perioperative Practice programme