Basic Surgical Principles and Practice

• High-quality, consultant delivered education sessions.
• Flexible learning, incorporating a blend of both synchronous and asynchronous.
• Learning to fit in with busy clinical schedules.
• Syllabus-based education (core surgical curriculum and MRCS syllabus).
• A blend of clinical, technical and non-technical skills.
• A focus on clinical judgement and decision-making.
• Education and learning which is geared towards the skills needed to provide safer and better-quality care for patients.
• Access to a 'community of learners' to enhance cohesion and collegiality.
• Among the NTSD group across Ireland.
• Achieve alignment with RCSI as a training buddy.
• Pastoral care through access to personal well-being/career coaching.
• Mentorships from a team of surgical and coaching experts.

Module 1: Core Knowledge and Clinical Judgement 

Case-based discussions: A consultant surgeon will discuss a surgical topic that is highly relevant to clinical practice and will cover not only clinical surgery but also the basic sciences, including relevant anatomy, physiology and pathology. 

10 x 1-hour monthly sessions, giving 10 CPD points. 

Module 2: Clinical Skills

Module 2 is delivered in the format of a virtual ward round. Participants work with peers in small groups to review clinical cases including vital signs, medications, and investigations. The group discuss differential diagnoses and then presents the case to the consultant as if presenting on a ward round. Feedback is provided by the consultant.

Simulated virtual ward rounds are an important means of clinical skills training and form important learning outcomes in the new Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (Capabilities in Practice). These teaching sessions will include a blend of pre-course work and online classes.

10 x 1.5-hour sessions per year, giving 15 CPD points.

Module 3: Technical Skills

This is a two-day basic surgical skills training module held face-to-face in No 26 York Street, RCSI, with surgical faculty leading both training days. This module also includes skill development in theatre etiquette.

Two days per year giving 15 CPD points.

Module 4: Non-technical Skills

This is a self-directed module which will be based on the human factors curriculum and will include a blend of pre-course work and directed online learning. This module includes course material on communication, clinical handover, teleconsultation, open disclosure and consent. Practising the communication skills learned from this course content will be integrated within Module 2 and Module 3.

Module 5: Professional Behaviours and Patient Safety

Each month, participants will be given a module to complete from the RCSI online course Professionalism in 21st-Century Medical Practice. Participants will be required to complete a module and submit a certificate of completion at the end of each month, equating to 10 CPD credits per year. The principal focus of this session will be to enhance the awareness and understanding of issues around patient safety. This module will be based on the Professionalism in 21st Century Medical Practice course.

This course will include online live sessions on 'Caring for Yourself in Surgery' and 'Lifestyle Medicine'. All students will be offered monthly group drop-in sessions with a consultant surgeon and surgical educationalist to consolidate learning from the clinical theme of the month. 

Access to surgical mentorship/career coaching/personal well-being coaching/educational progression coaching will be provided by an expert team consisting of a surgeon/life coach, surgical educationalist/life coach and a psychotherapist/coach.