Acute Stroke Care (Online)
Advance your understanding of pre-hospital and hyperacute stroke care, secondary prevention, risk factor management and more . Book ConsultationApply NowAcute Stroke Care (Online)
Advance your understanding of pre-hospital and hyperacute stroke care, secondary prevention, risk factor management and more. Book ConsultationApply NowMEDICAL & HEALTH SCIENCES
Acute Stroke Care (Online)
Certificate of Proficiency | Contributes to PGDipStrokeCare
Advance your understanding of pre-hospital and hyperacute stroke care, secondary prevention, risk factor management and more with this 30-point credit bearing course comprising 6 fortnightly modules.
Recommended Background
Students will have a bachelors degree in a relevant subject
University Entrance (or equivalent) required for admission
Duration
Next Start Dates
3 March 2025 (Semester One)
Applications close one week before the course starts. Enrol early to secure your spot.
Domestic Fees*
$2,723.10 (estimate)
Disclaimer: *Fees are inclusive of 15% GST, but do not include the Student Services Fee, course books, travel and health insurance, or living costs. Amounts shown are indicative only. In addition to the tuition fee, there is a Student Services Fee of $4.44 per point (online). Fees will be confirmed upon completion of enrolment into courses.
Why is this course right for you?
This course is part of the Postgraduate Diploma in Stroke Care (PGDipStrokeCare) and may also be taken as a course-only study option. Designed with busy clinicians in mind, it describes and evaluates advanced and applied interdisciplinary knowledge about pre-hospital care, diagnosis and hyperacute stroke care, secondary stroke prevention, stroke pathophysiology and pharmacological management of risk factors.
Students taking the course come from a range of backgrounds, and have different levels of experience with stroke – from just starting to build their knowledge, to several years of experience. This diversity supports rich discussions about the material, with everyone’s perspectives and experiences welcome.
Upon completion, students who wish to progress their studies further towards a formal qualification may count this course towards the Postgraduate Diploma in Stroke Care (entry criteria and time limits apply).
Course Structure
In this course you will develop advanced interdisciplinary knowledge about pre-hospital care, diagnosis and hyperacute stroke care, secondary stroke prevention, stroke pathophysiology and management of risk factors. You will evaluate and critique stroke epidemiology and equity of access to stroke services. Skills in assessment of neurological impairment, rehabilitation needs, and discharge planning will also be developed with reference to clinical guidelines and local contexts.
| Causes and burdens of stroke | In this module you will explore the main symptoms, risk factors and causes of stroke, and the burdens of stroke in Aotearoa New Zealand. | ||
| Hyperacute stroke care | In this module you will explore pre-hospital and hyperacute stroke care, including pre-hospital stroke management processes, initial diagnosis steps, and reperfusion therapies. | ||
| Acute stroke care | This module covers acute medical and surgical stroke care, including key tests and imaging used to identify the causes of stroke, risks and benefits of medications and surgery for the acute management of stroke, as well as nursing care at the acute stage. | ||
| Reducing the risk of stroke | This module focuses on communicating with people with stroke and whānau and empowering them to reduce the risk of another stroke. In particular, you will look at the role of medications in secondary prevention of stroke, the surgical options for reducing stroke risk, key lifestyle modifications for reducing stroke risk, and models of shared decision-making. | ||
| Swallowing and mobility | In this module, you will learn about the early assessment and management of swallowing and mobility difficulties in the acute stages of stroke. In particular, you will explore how swallowing is affected by stroke and how it is assessed, the risks of impaired swallowing and how eating and drinking can be safely managed, how mobility is affected by stroke and how it is assessed, and the risks of impaired mobility and how mobilising can be safely managed. | ||
| Communication and transitions | This module is about the assessment and management of communication at the acute stage of stroke, and transitions from acute care to rehabilitation or the community. In particular, you will look at how communication can be affected by stroke, how it is assessed, the challenges and risks posed by impaired communication and the strategies that can reduce these. The main factors influencing where patients go when they leave acute care are considered while identifying key components of a good discharge summary. |
Programme Structure
The beginning of this course surveys many of the key institutions and principles of New Zealand’s government. You will apply this knowledge to a policy design activity to get you thinking about the types of people and sources you might consult when designing a policy for the New Zealand community. In the second half of the course, we consider public policy and governance issues in comparative context—with a particular emphasis on the practice of lesson-drawing and how governments engage in this practice. You will apply these learnings to a range of class activities, including a research essay.
Causes and burdens of stroke
In this module you will explore the main symptoms, risk factors and causes of stroke, and the burdens of stroke in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Hyperacute stroke care
In this module you will explore pre-hospital and hyperacute stroke care, including pre-hospital stroke management processes, initial diagnosis steps, and reperfusion therapies.
Acute stroke care
This module covers acute medical and surgical stroke care, including key tests and imaging used to identify the causes of stroke, risks and benefits of medications and surgery for the acute management of stroke, as well as nursing care at the acute stage.
Reducing the risk of stroke
This module focuses on communicating with people with stroke and whānau and empowering them to reduce the risk of another stroke. In particular, you will look at the role of medications in secondary prevention of stroke, the surgical options for reducing stroke risk, key lifestyle modifications for reducing stroke risk, and models of shared decision-making.
Swallowing and mobility
In this module, you will learn about the early assessment and management of swallowing and mobility difficulties in the acute stages of stroke. In particular, you will explore how swallowing is affected by stroke and how it is assessed, the risks of impaired swallowing and how eating and drinking can be safely managed, how mobility is affected by stroke and how it is assessed, and the risks of impaired mobility and how mobilising can be safely managed.
Communication and transitions
This module is about the assessment and management of communication at the acute stage of stroke, and transitions from acute care to rehabilitation or the community. In particular, you will look at how communication can be affected by stroke, how it is assessed, the challenges and risks posed by impaired communication and the strategies that can reduce these. The main factors influencing where patients go when they leave acute care are considered while identifying key components of a good discharge summary.
Course Benefits
Students who complete this course will be able to:
1. Describe the etiology, pathophysiology, and epidemiology of stroke
2. Explain how stroke is diagnosed and the selection of patients for hyper-acute stroke treatments
3. Evaluate the process for establishing the cause of stroke for individual patients
4. Analyse the roles and responsibilities of clinical team members in secondary prevention of stroke
5. Select appropriate assessments and tests to inform clinical decision-making regarding mobilisation, feeding, and initiation of rehabilitation therapies, with reference to clinical guidelines.
Upon successful completion of the course you will:
* Be awarded with 30 credit points from the University of Auckland
* Have the option to take your credit into the PGDipStrokeCare (entry criteria and time limits apply)
Frequently asked questions about this course
Application FAQs
This course is for students with a bachelors degree in a relevant subject. Relevant subjects include include clinical exercise physiology, counselling, dietetics, medicine, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, optometry, paramedicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy, psychology, social work and speech language therapy. Please note that for admission you must meet the requirements to study at a New Zealand University (e.g. through University Entrance or an alternative entrance pathway).
What is the date for the next intake?
The next start date for this course is Monday 26 February 2024. Applications close one week before the course starts. Enrol early to secure your spot.
Is the course fee a one-off lump sum?
Yes, the course fee is a one-off sum of $2,624.70 for domestic students.
Is this course open to non-resident students?
No. Currently Auckland Online Certificates of Proficiency are only open to NZ citizens and permanent residents.
Studying FAQs
Yes. You can study at a time that suits you (within the allocated course dates). Auckland Online courses are designed for working professionals. They are flexible yet structured to help you gain the knowledge in the time you have.
How is the course structured?
The course will run over 12 weeks (with a break in the middle), and will comprise 6 fortnightly modules. Further details on the course structure can be found under the ‘Course Structure’ tab further up on this page.
Assessment FAQs
Learners will be assessed through four assignments that address the learning objectives from each of the modules in the course. There is no final examination.
Benefits FAQs
A Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) is a course-only study option that allows you to take a course at the University of Auckland, without studying a full programme. It is a good option for those who want to study short-term, or to test whether a subject is something they wish to pursue more of in the future.
Does the course enable me to take further study at the University?
If you decide to progress your studies further towards a full qualification, you can apply to reassign the points from your CoP to the PGDipStrokeCare (entry criteria and time limits apply).
How many course credits will I attain upon completion of the course?
Upon completion of the course, you will be awarded with 30 credit points from the University of Auckland.
Do I get a certificate at the end?
As a Certificate of Proficiency is not a formal qualification, you will not be able to graduate with it or receive a graduation certificate. Your results will be recorded on your official academic transcript, providing evidence of your study.
Start Your University Application
Before we transfer you to the University of Auckland application portal to start your application, we would like to capture a few details.
These details enable us to provide you with ongoing information about this course, including exciting updates or any upcoming webinars. Our advisors may also contact you to see if you require any personalised advice to guide you through the application process.
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