Please note this module is only for applicants on the District Nursing Pathway.

This degree level module is intended for applicants who have studied at least one module at degree level but have not yet accumulated degree level credit amounting to 90 credits or more. If you already have a UK health-related degree (or confirmed international equivalent) or have accumulated at least 90 credits at degree level, we advise you to apply for the Masters level clinical assessment module Advanced Clinical Assessment Skills (ACP_7_010).

Nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, and allied health professionals are increasingly utilising knowledge and skills to enhance their clinical practice that have traditionally been viewed as belonging to the medical domain.  This module will therefore focus on developing the knowledge and skills that can be used within the clinical assessment of an adult. Specifically, this will include the ability to take a comprehensive history from a patient and/or carer and conduct a physical examination of the ENT, eye, lymphatic, respiratory, peripheral vascular, cardiac, abdominal, musculoskeletal and neurological systems.  The module will also introduce mental health assessment in recognition of the importance of using a holistic approach. Crumbie’s (2006) problem solving model will be used as the underpinning theoretical framework to support the assessment and clinical reasoning process.  

Strategies to ensure the delivery of safe practice and identification of future learning needs also form a key part of this module.

Potential applicants will come from two groups:

• Students who want to undertake the module on a stand-alone single CPPD module basis such as nurses, allied health professionals and pharmacists working in primary, secondary or tertiary care settings who need to expand their clinical assessment abilities to improve patient care and meet service demands.
• Students who want to take this module as an excellent foundation prior to, or following, undertaking the Non Medical Prescribing programme to support safe and effective prescribing practice.

Available as a standalone module: Yes

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

• Professional:
• Current registration as a health care professional with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, (NMC), Health and Care Professions Council, (HCPC) or The General  Pharmaceutical Council (GPC)
• Minimum of 2 years’ post-registration experience on entry to the module
• Academic:
• Academic study to a minimum of diploma level (120 credits Level 5)
• Practice:
• Employed* in a 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 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
• Practice Facilitator must be either a:
• A qualified Doctor (GP or Registrar Level in hospital setting) or
• An Advanced Nurse Practitioner or an Advanced Clinical Practitioner who has successfully completed a minimum of an RCN Accredited BSc NP or a PgDip ACP or ANP award at least 2 years ago

Career benefits

Successful completion of this module will result in a student who can demonstrate knowledge and skills that are currently in high demand across all healthcare settings.

Assessment

• Element 1 - Case Study  (2,500 words )

• Element 2 - Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) (two 15 minute stations)
• Element 3 - Practice Based Learning Record

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

Assessment/submission date: 

• See Under Apply

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding:       

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the elements of a comprehensive history and for physical examination of the head, neck, ears, nose, throat, lymphatic, respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, musculoskeletal system, neurological system, eyes, cardiovascular and peripheral vascular systems, and evaluation of mental health status, and what constitutes normal or abnormal findings within each system. 

Intellectual skills:

• Critically apply problem-solving skills to a practice scenario, utilising clinical decision-making skills to differentiate between normal, variations of normal and abnormal findings for the previously listed systems and draw appropriate conclusions. 

Practical Skills:

• Elicit comprehensive and/or problem-focused structured holistic health histories from presenting patients.
• Perform a comprehensive and/or problem-focused systematic physical examination of the head, neck, ear, nose, throat, respiratory system, back and abdomen.
• Accurately record and interpret patients’ health statuses using appropriate terminology and formats. 

Transferable skills:

• Recognise and understand their own limitations of practice to enable the practitioner to initiate an appropriate referral when a problem exceeds their scope of practice and/or expertise.