The LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Nutritional Support in Critical Care (PgD Critical Care Nutrition) is an advanced qualification designed for experienced healthcare professionals seeking to specialise in nutritional support for critically ill patients. This programme is intended for learners who already possess foundational knowledge in nutrition, dietetics, or clinical care and wish to enhance their expertise, advance their career prospects, and fulfil Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.
Learners will gain in-depth understanding of the complex nutritional needs of critically ill patients, including metabolic assessment, enteral and parenteral nutrition, and the management of nutrition-related complications in intensive care settings. The course equips learners with the skills to critically evaluate clinical evidence, develop personalised nutritional interventions, and contribute effectively to multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
LICQual ensures that all centres delivering this qualification maintain rigorous quality standards. Centres are required to employ competent and fully qualified staff, provide access to comprehensive learning materials, and ensure all necessary resources are available to support high-quality teaching and effective learning. This guarantees that learners receive professional, structured, and practical instruction, maximising their potential for success.
This Level 7 diploma represents a significant step for healthcare and nutrition professionals who aspire to specialize in critical care nutrition, improve patient outcomes, and establish themselves as leaders in this highly specialized field of practice.
Course Overview
Qualification Title
LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Nutritional Support in Critical Care (PgD Critical Care Nutrition)
Total Units
6
Total Credits
120
GLH
600
Qualification #
LICQ2201114
Qualification Specification
To enroll in the LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Nutritional Support in Critical Care (PgD Critical Care Nutrition), applicants must meet the following criteria:
|
Qualification# |
Unit Title |
Credits |
GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
|
LICQ2201114-1 |
Advanced Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism in Critical Care |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201114-2 |
Assessment and Monitoring of Nutritional Status |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201114-3 |
Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Support |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201114-4 |
Nutritional Interventions and Therapeutic Strategies |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201114-5 |
Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Critical Appraisal |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201114-6 |
Professional Practice, Ethics, and Leadership in Critical Care Nutrition |
20 |
100 |
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Unit 1: Advanced Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism in Critical Care
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Critically evaluate the metabolic and nutritional requirements of critically ill patients
- Analyse the impact of critical illness on energy, protein, and micronutrient metabolism
- Assess the physiological changes that influence nutritional needs in intensive care settings
- Apply advanced nutritional science knowledge to optimise patient care in critical care environments
Unit 2: Assessment and Monitoring of Nutritional Status
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Critically evaluate methods for assessing nutritional status in critically ill patients
- Apply anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical assessment techniques effectively
- Interpret assessment data to inform clinical decision-making
- Develop monitoring plans to ensure appropriate nutritional interventions and outcomes
Unit 3: Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Support
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Design and implement enteral and parenteral nutrition plans based on patient-specific needs
- Critically evaluate the risks, benefits, and complications associated with nutrition support
- Apply evidence-based protocols for safe administration of nutritional therapies
- Demonstrate professional competence in managing complex clinical nutrition cases
Unit 4: Nutritional Interventions and Therapeutic Strategies
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Develop personalised nutritional interventions for critically ill patients with various conditions
- Evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic nutrition strategies for trauma, sepsis, organ failure, and post-surgical recovery
- Integrate clinical guidelines and evidence-based practice into intervention planning
- Adapt nutritional interventions based on ongoing assessment and patient response
Unit 5: Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Critical Appraisal
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Critically appraise clinical research and scientific literature in critical care nutrition
- Apply research findings to inform and improve clinical practice
- Design and conduct evidence-based projects to evaluate nutritional strategies
- Demonstrate advanced skills in synthesising evidence for informed decision-making
Unit 6: Professional Practice, Ethics, and Leadership in Critical Care Nutrition
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Apply ethical principles and professional standards in critical care nutrition practice
- Demonstrate leadership and collaboration within multidisciplinary healthcare teams
- Develop a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) plan to enhance career progression
- Evaluate governance and regulatory frameworks relevant to critical care nutrition
The LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Nutritional Support in Critical Care is designed for experienced healthcare and nutrition professionals seeking to specialise in critical care nutrition. This course is particularly suitable for:
- Dietitians and nutritionists aiming to develop advanced skills in nutritional support for critically ill patients
- Nurses, doctors, and allied healthcare professionals working in intensive care or acute care settings
- Clinical educators and trainers who wish to enhance their expertise in teaching critical care nutrition
- Healthcare practitioners seeking to improve patient outcomes through evidence-based nutritional interventions
- Professionals committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and lifelong learning in clinical nutrition
- Individuals aspiring to take leadership roles in multidisciplinary critical care teams
This programme is ideal for learners who already possess foundational knowledge in nutrition, dietetics, or healthcare and wish to apply advanced knowledge and specialized skills in real-world clinical settings.
Centres delivering the LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Nutritional Support in Critical Care must meet stringent standards to ensure learners receive high-quality training and achieve success. The key requirements include:
- Qualified and Competent Staff: Centres must employ trainers and assessors with relevant postgraduate qualifications and professional experience in nutrition, dietetics, or critical care. Staff should be capable of delivering advanced-level content and supporting learners in clinical and academic contexts.
- Comprehensive Learning Resources: Centres should provide access to current textbooks, clinical guidelines, research journals, digital learning platforms, and practical tools to support effective learning and evidence-based practice.
- Appropriate Facilities: Centres must have suitable classrooms, laboratories, or online platforms equipped to facilitate advanced teaching, interactive learning, and clinical simulations where applicable.
- Assessment and Support Systems: Centres should implement structured processes for monitoring learner progress, providing constructive feedback, and offering academic and pastoral support to ensure learner achievement.
- Commitment to Quality Assurance: Centres must maintain robust quality management systems to uphold high standards in course delivery, assessment, and learner experience.
- CPD and Professional Development Support: Centres are expected to promote Continuing Professional Development for learners and staff, fostering professional growth and maintaining excellence in clinical practice.
By meeting these requirements, centres ensure that learners benefit from a professional, structured, and high-quality learning experience, fully preparing them to deliver advanced nutritional support in critical care settings.
Assessment and Verification
All units within this qualification are subject to internal assessment by the approved centre and external verification by LICQual. The qualification follows a criterion-referenced assessment approach, ensuring that learners meet all specified learning outcomes.
To achieve a ‘Pass’ in any unit, learners must provide valid, sufficient, and authentic evidence demonstrating their attainment of all learning outcomes and compliance with the prescribed assessment criteria. The Assessor is responsible for evaluating the evidence and determining whether the learner has successfully met the required standards.
Assessors must maintain a clear and comprehensive audit trail, documenting the basis for their assessment decisions to ensure transparency, consistency, and compliance with quality assurance requirements.
