Advanced Respiratory Practice

Attendance mode

Entry year

Duration: 6 months
Start date: January
Location: City Campus

Suitable for UK applications.

Overview

Impoverished respiratory health is a common cause of hospital admission/ increased healthcare input. Many admissions to critical care units and many referrals for critical care review are driven by deterioration in a patient’s respiratory health.

This module develops students’ knowledge and skills in relation to caring for patients with a range of respiratory pathologies with specific attention to the use of invasive and non-invasive ventilation strategies, tracheostomy/laryngectomy care, chest drains, the contribution of physiotherapy and associated pharmacology and care of vulnerable patients.

The module is designed to appeal to critical care nurses and physiotherapists, urgent care nurses, healthcare professionals in respiratory care areas such as acute respiratory care units (ARCUs), and healthcare professionals with a special interest in respiratory health.

The module is available at both Level 6 and Level 7 and also forms part of the Critical Care CCE/PGCert.

The module has six days of teaching, one day of assignment preparation support, and one day of assessment.

This module is subject to having a viable number of students to run.

Application deadlines

January 2026 entry

application deadline: 15 December 2025

When I studied Advanced Cardiac Care and Advanced Respiratory Practice, I really enjoyed the courses. All the professors are very knowledgeable and easy to approach which helped me to enjoy my study times and keep moving forward.

Pilantarat, Advanced Cardiac Care and Advanced Respiratory Practice student

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee

These fees are for entry during the 2025-2026 academic year (September 2025 - August 2026).

10 credits: £627
20 credits: £1254
30 credits: £1881
40 credits: £2508
Dissertation: £2714

Additional course costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Funding your studies

It can be hard to know what financial help is available to you as a student.

Health Education England may fund some health courses/modules at the University of Bradford for healthcare staff providing NHS services working within West Yorkshire and Harrogate, against organisational training priorities identified through the organisations training needs analysis.

You are therefore advised to contact the SSPRD Signatory within your organisation regarding their organisational training priorities.

See our fees and financial support section.

Postgraduate Master's Loan

If you live in England you may be able to apply for a special Government-funded Master's Loan to help pay your tuition fees and living costs. You don't have to pay the loan back until you're earning a certain amount of money.

Further information about the variety of options that can help fund your studies and maximise the money available to you is available on our funding your studies section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Entry requirements

Registered Nurse or Allied Health Professional
Relevant experience/access to relevant clinical area (e.g. ICU/HDU/A&E/Acute respiratory care/High Observation Area)
First level degree or equivalent

Your learning journey

This module is provided as part of a interdisciplinary Framework within the Faculty of Health Studies. The Framework enables students to create an individualised programme of study that will meet either their needs and/or their employers’ needs for a changing diverse workforce within a modern organisation.

Module content comprises of:

Respiratory pathologies

Common and less common respiratory pathology resultant in critical care admission: COPD and acute/infective exacerbation of COPD; management of asthma include acute and stable presentation; pneumonia including ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) and sepsis secondary to chest sepsis; COVID-19/ARDS/ALI; pulmonary embolism (PE); unusual anatomy and physiology and ramifications for respiratory health: kyphosis, scoliosis, spinal cord lesion; alpha 1 anti-trypsin deficiency; cystic fibrosis.

Invasive ventilation

Indications and contraindications for invasive ventilation; settings and modes of invasive ventilation including rationale for these. Nursing practices of care of the invasively ventilated patient to include tracheal tube management, humidification, suctioning, patient positioning. Patient challenges during invasive ventilation: time-critical emergencies: bronchospasm/laryngospasm, compromised airway, blocked/misplaced tube, difficult intubation, tension pneumothorax and non-time critical emergencies: ventilator asynchrony; weaning; deterioration including prone positioning and referral to ECMO.

Non-invasive ventilation

Indications and contraindications for non-invasive ventilation (NIV); settings/modes to include BIPAP and CPAP and interfaces (face masks, nasal cannulae and hoods) used/not used to deliver these modes. Nursing practices in the care of the patient during NIV to include: pressure area care, eye and mouth hygiene, hydration and nutrition needs. Patient challenges during NIV: non-concordance; cardiovascular effects; failure; ethical decision-making – to invasively ventilated or not, managing ceilings of care.

Tracheostomy and laryngectomy care

Based upon the content of the Electronic Learning for Health e-learning programme: Tracheostomy Safety (NTSP). This programme covers: Understanding Tracheostomies and Laryngectomies; Emergency Care; Basic Care Done Well; Emergency Front of Neck Airway. Following this study day students will be advised to complete the ELfH e-learning programme if they have not already done so.

Therapeutics: chest drains, physiotherapy and pharmacology

Indications and contraindications for chest drains, types of chest drains, their use and care. The contribution and scope of respiratory/chest physiotherapy including the role of the specialist physiotherapist. The indications, side-effects, contradictions and doses of a range of medicines to include: beta-agonists such as salbutamol, antimuscarinic bronchodilators such as ipratropium and tiotropium, theophylline and aminophylline, corticosteroids such as beclomethasone, budesonide and fluticasone, leukotriene receptor antagonists such as montelukast and antihistamines such as cetirizine and chlorphenamine. Anti-bacterials, antifungals and anti-virals used in the treatment of respiratory disease will be covered briefly. Mucolytics and isotonic/hypertonic saline in respect of secretion management will also be covered briefly. In this session the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of drug families will be focused upon with brief reference only to afore mentioned examples of name drugs/medications.

Career prospects

This module forms part of the PGCert/CCE in Critical Care which meets the Guidelines for the Provision of Intensive Care Services (GPICS) recommendations for postgraduate critical care nurse training. A qualification in this area is highly regarded by employers, and will support career progression in your chosen field.

Career opportunities

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the careers section.

This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.