Module - Breast Ultrasound

This module covers the following: 

• Normal breast and axillary anatomy
• Breast and axillary pathological appearances (both benign and malignant)
• Clinical justification of breast ultrasound Breast symptoms and the correlation with pathology
• Breast and axilla ultrasound scanning techniques Image interpretation
• Correlation of mammograms and breast ultrasound
• Reporting skills (how to construct the report, correct terminology, legal requirements)
• Correlation of imaging appearances between mammography and ultrasound
• Breast FNA/biopsy technique and when to FNA/biopsy
• Aseptic technique for performing interventional procedures
• Elastography and its use in breast ultrasound
• Colour Doppler and power Doppler and its use in breast ultrasound

We have adopted a ‘blended learning’ approach to teaching on the ultrasound programme combining online and (for some modules) campus based face-to-face delivery, and our modules are taught in block release. Your placement site must allocate you the required time to access the learning materials and tutorials and attend any campus-based teaching (if required within your individualised learning agreement) on the scheduled module dates/times.

This module will have an element of live virtual tutorial type sessions using Blackboard Collaborate or Microsoft Teams, which you will be expected to engage with. You will need a suitable laptop or PC with speakers and a webcam and adequate internet access/broadband speed to work remotely on-line in a location that is best suited for you to learn, e.g. in a suitable quiet location at your placement site, or at home.

The delivery of your modules may vary from tutor to tutor, module to module, so please always follow the guidance of your module leader and module Blackboard site.

For IT issues, further details on our IT services can be found here: https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/student-life/facilities/it-facilities/

There is also some further information related to on-line study here on our website which you may find helpful:

https://my.cumbria.ac.uk/Student-Life/Learning/Resources/Studying-from-home/Online-Learning/

This module is delivered via a 5-day academic block of scheduled learning and teaching utilising the virtual learning environment and face to face learning and teaching activities.

The first 3 days are online and the final 2 days are delivered at our Lancaster campus.

The remainder of the module comprises self-directed study and placement-based learning.

How will this module be assessed?

There are two pieces of formal academic (summative) work for the theory element of this module:

HMSU7169

Assignment 1 Case Study Project [weighting 60%]

Assignment 2 Objective Structured Examination [weighting 40%]

The minimum mark of 50%, or above, must be achieved in EACH assessment item in order to pass the module

Plus...

HMSU9069 Clinical Portfolio:

Clinical Pebblepad Portfolio

The clinical practice element is graded ‘Pass/Fail’

• This module is only available for stand-alone study, where applicants can prove underpinning relevant previous study, such as an existing CASE accredited ultrasound award from this or another UK academic institution or successful APL against the minimum core modules for PGCert.

• You must have organised and secured access to a suitable clinical placement, mentor, separate local independent assessor and patient case load for a minimum of 15 hours per week, for the duration of the module. If your placement is terminated for any reason, the university cannot assist you in finding another placement. If a suitable clinical placement cannot be found in these circumstances, you will be required to withdraw from the course.

• Applicants must complete a CEMU form to be submitted with their application. This must be completed in full with all required signatures (wet signatures only).

• Applicants should usually be eligible for registration by their respective UK professional or regulatory body e.g. Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), General Medical Council (GMC), Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), College and Society for Clinical Vascular Science (CSVS) or Register of clinical Technologists (RCT). You will also need to provide one reference in support of your application, from the department offering a clinical placement who can confirm your suitability to train in ultrasound.

• Overseas students can only be considered if they are able to secure a suitable placement in the UK or Ireland. Regretfully the university are unable to assist in this process.

• You will usually be required to pass an element of pre-course assessment, carried out in the department sponsoring you. It is the sponsoring department’s responsibility to facilitate this assessment, and this will be carried out to ensure that you show an aptitude for ultrasonography. You will need to undertake a preliminary practical assessment to demonstrate the relevant psychomotor skills such as hand-eye co-ordination, pattern recognition and spatial awareness. The assessment will be of an informal nature, carried out by experienced practitioners in your clinical placement, who will then provide a written reference to confirm your suitability.

• Before being accepted onto the course, all applicants will be interviewed, usually by telephone. Interviewers from the course team will, amongst other attributes, be looking for a commitment to further study, an understanding of content and standard of the course and interpersonal skills.

• As part of the recruitment process, applicants may be assessed for their values using the core requirements set out in the Value Based Recruitment (VBR) Behaviour Framework as outlined in the NHS Constitution.