Background Information

Course Information

Residential information

Course Aims and Objectives

Course Structure

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Background information

The PEN Group Clinical update Course in Enteral & Parenteral Nutrition has been run annually for registered Dietitians since 1985. In 1990 it was the first course to be validated by the British Dietetic Association.

At the time of its inception the aim of the course was to enable Dietitians to consolidate and develop their knowledge of all aspects of artificial nutritional support. This aim remains as the principle aim of the course. The teaching on the course remains in line with relevant current literature and there is a strong emphasis on critical appraisal of the delegates own clinical practice. The course continues to provide delegates with the opportunity to share clinical experiences develop practical skills and establish professional networks.

Since its inception, the course has attracted practising dietitians of all grades and many clinical specialities, for the following reasons:-

1.Nutritional support is an ever-growing area of clinical practice and Dietitians working in hospitals and community have a pivotal role in nutrition support.

2.The course augments and expands knowledge provided at undergraduate level and provides an excellent opportunity for Dietitians to fulfil CPD requirements.

3.The British Association of Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) emphasises the role of multi-disciplinary teams in nutritional support. The Clinical update course is an ideal mechanism for developing the training of qualified Dietitians thus enabling them to market their expertise in the field to other non-dietetic health care professionals.

4.Dietetic posts continue to be advertised stating that potential candidates should have successfully completed the course.

5.The organisers and tutors undertake a proportion of the work in their own time to allow the course fees to remain competitive.

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Course Information

The clinical update course is a 7 month course aimed at senior dietitians working predominantly in nutritional support. The course will start in March, when pre-course work is sent out, and ends in October when the post-course work case study is submitted. The residential week will be Monday 30th June – Friday 4th July 2008 at The John Anderson Campus, the University of Strathclyde, in the city centre of Glasgow.

Cost: BDA member From £700, without accom, £850, inc accom
Non BDA member From £750, without accom, £900 inc accom

Applications open 30th October 2007 and places are allocated on a first come first served basis on receipt of completed application form, manager’s form, and full payment.

Please note, places are restricted to dietitians who will have been working for 2 years from the date of application, i.e. must have qualified before Oct 2005.

Application forms can be downloaded here.

Residential Information

This year the residential venue has moved. The course will be held at the John Anderson Campus, the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Further information on this venue can be downloaded from the campus village PDF files below.

Campus Village Leaflet (pdf)

The residential element will take place from the 30th June until the 4th July. Delegates who book a course place with accommodation will have 4 nights bed and breakfast accommodation included in the cost. If delegates require additional accommodation please contact the course leader. Additional accommodation is £33 per night and must be paid to the university on arrival.

The costs have been maintained at the following rates:-

BDA members: - £700 without accommodation.
Non BDA members: - £750 without accommodation.

BDA Members: - £ 850, with standard en suite B&B accommodation
Non BDA Members: - £900, with standard en suite B&B accommodation

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Course Aims and Objectives

Course Aims

1.To improve delegates awareness of their local nutrition support services, guidelines and policies.

2.To assist delegates in planning, delivering and critically evaluating appropriate nutritional support strategies.

3.To provide practising Dietitians with the skills and knowledge to design, assess and monitor routine enteral and parenteral feeding regimens.

4.To develop the skills and knowledge of the delegate in order that they can demonstrate how a clinical decision in nutritional support is reached.

5.To strengthen and advance knowledge base in clinical nutrition and metabolism.

Learning Objectives

On successful completion of the course, the delegate will be able to:

1.Review evidence and comment critically on the nutritional support service in their local area

2.Demonstrate an ability to appropriately identify patients at risk of malnutrition

3.Review and critically evaluate specific practices relating to feeding routes.

4.Assess and calculate individual nutrient requirements and route of administration through the application of theoretical knowledge and understanding.

5.Be proactive in the nutritional assessment and monitoring of patients

6.Demonstrate an ability to plan, implement and organise structured nutritional care plans.

7.Synthesise and interpret appropriate information from research data

8.Engage and influence others in rational and reasoned argument with respect to the implementation and modification of feeding regimens.

9.Contribute to theoretical and/or professional innovation at a personal and organisational level.

10.Begin to demonstrate the ability to undertake independent research programmes.

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Course Structure

1. Pre-course Assignment - 25 learning hours

The pre-course assignment is seen as an introductory exercise. It is designed to establish common baseline knowledge, to prepare delegates for the critical approach to their own practice and to the literature which is required for the course. The delegates are allocated 6-8 weeks to complete their pre-course assignment and return it to their tutor for marking.
It acts as a formative assessment where the delegates receive constructive comments about the assignment.

2. Residential Course - 35 learning hours

The residential section of the course runs over 5 days and to help keep costs competitive the course is held in university conference centres with the option of campus accommodation.

A variety of teaching methods are used. Each delegate is allocated a tutor and tutorial group (6-7 delegates/tutor) with whom they work in workshop sessions. Delegates are encouraged to work together, discuss their practice and share ideas.
The assessment method on the residential section is a multiple choice exam.

3. Post-course Case Study - 60 learning hours

Written guidelines are provided to delegates to enable them to prepare a written case study on a patient of their own choice. This is supplemented by a workshop to ensure the delegates understand what is expected of them. The submitted report should demonstrate that the delegate has undertaken a thorough review of the literature and reflected on the content of the whole course. Delegates are expected to critically evaluate their own clinical practice with reference to current literature and the nutrition support services provided in their area. In addition they are rewarded for proposing practical recommendations that may be applied at an organisational and personal level in their own working environment.

Delegates must pass all sections of the course to pass and receive a validation certificate.
Unsuccessful delegates will receive a certificate of attendance.

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