This is a core module within the MSc/PgDip Advanced Clinical Practice (Adult) and MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Adult) Apprenticeship courses offered by the School of Health and Social Care.

The module is only available for students who meet all of the pre-requisites and who have been successful in the course selection process.

The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine have emphasised the need for Advanced Practitioners who are highly autonomous utilising extensive knowledge and skills and experience in clinical decision making to ensure early recognition and initiation of appropriate actions for acutely ill patients.  Evaluation has demonstrated that their inclusion in the team enhances continuity, anticipatory interventions and the overall quality of acute and critical care services.  Commensurate with the scope and level of advanced practice in this context is the need to demonstrate competence when presentations are complex.  Clinical complexity is a multi-dimensional concept which can stem from the practitioner, the setting, the patient and uncertainty that arises from the patients’ symptoms which can have multiple potential causes. This module will consolidate prior clinical and professional learning and focus on preparing students for these responsibilities with adult patients.

Available as a standalone module: No, the modules Physiology for Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP_7_009),  Advanced Clinical Assessment Skills (ACP_7_010), Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills (ACP_7_011) and Prescribing for Clinical Practice (V300) (NMP_7_040) or Enhancing Practice through Work Based Learning (WHN_7_015)  need to be successfully completed first. 

Attendance (Please note, this is subject to change for future intakes)

Dates: For attendance information, please see the top of this page and click on ‘attendance dates’. Please note, if the module is full or closed for the intake(s) this academic year, dates may not appear. 

Venue: LSBU Southwark Campus

Typical intake(s): Semester 1 and Semester 2

Entry requirements

• Completion of the following modules: Physiology for Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP_7_009),  Advanced Clinical Assessment Skills (ACP_7_010), Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills (ACP_7_011) and Prescribing for Clinical Practice (V300) (NMP_7_040) or Enhancing Practice through Work Based Learning (WHN_7_015) 
• Professional:
• Current registration as health care professional with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• A minimum of 3 years' post-registration experience on entry to the module
• Practice: 
• Employed* for a minimum of 30 hours per week in one relevant clinical environment, with access to appropriate clinical support and supervision for the development of knowledge and skills to an advanced level.  *This excludes students who are working in a locum or agency basis.  
• Applicants must also be able to demonstrate employer support for all of the following (even where individuals are self-funding):
• Support for development of the applicant to an advanced level within the workplace while on the module, to enable evolution of the scope of practice and responsibilities
• Willingness to release the student to enable them to dedicate the equivalent of 3 hours per week throughout the module (in addition to attendance at the university) as protected learning time to enable the student to work in a 'supernumerary capacity' to focus on their clinical/professional development evidenced by completion of the Practice Based Learning record.
• Able to support the student to organise for a Doctor/qualified Advanced Practitioner to act as their designated "Practice Facilitator" to initially supervise and support the applicants overall clinical development and facilitate completion of specified practice-based learning activities. Sign off for specific aspects of learning is required (this responsibility can be shared with other senior experienced clinical colleagues however nomination of an overall Practice Facilitator is required).
• Provision of day-to-day supervision and support by an experienced clinical team to enable the development of the knowledge, skills, behaviours, competence and confidence commensurate with this level of practice

Career benefits

This module facilitates achievement of a number of competencies required in the Department of Health National Education and Competence Framework for ACCPs (Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, 2008). It will also develop students who are able to meet the needs for a flexible workforce that is able to respond to the changing patterns of service. Successful completion of this module will therefore, result in a student who can demonstrate knowledge and skills that are currently in high demand with existing and emerging services in health care.

Assessment

• Element 1 - Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)
• Element 2 - Clinical Portfolio and (Reflection/analysis to account for 2,500 words)

 Both elements of assessment must be passed to pass this module.  

Assessment/submission date: 

• See Under Apply

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding:       

• Systematically draw on a comprehensive in-depth knowledge base to provide holistic evidence-based episodes of care for adult patients with a broad range of acute complex health problems including understanding the ethical and medico-legal dimensions

Intellectual skills:

• Critically appraise and synthesise evidence from a wide variety of resources to inform the use of therapeutic interventions, proactively monitor the impact and/or make timely and appropriate referrals

Practical Skills:

• Demonstrate competence in safe and evidence-based holistic individualised screening, assessment and pro-active management of adult patients experiencing existing and potential health problems of a common acute and/or long term nature within each of the following categories: respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, neurological, endocrine and mental health including proficiency in prioritising care, making referrals and documenting appropriately
• Critically evaluate and selectively apply suitable theoretical perspectives and skills to support effective communication and education with a range of stake holders, including patients and carers, in both straight forward and complex clinical situations
• Critically reflect and evaluate the psychological effects of acute illness and life-threatening conditions on the patient, family and significant others, including decision making regarding Do Not Actively Resuscitate (DNAR) and advance care planning

Transferable skills:

• Critically evaluate and demonstrate expertise as a reflective practitioner through compilation of a portfolio of evidence