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Advanced Practice development in the UK was pioneered by Barbara Stilwell, now an Honorary Doctor of London South Bank University. Dr Stillwell founded the first advanced nursing practice course at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in 1990. The original RCN Advanced Nurse Practitioner course moved to London South Bank University, where it has been developed for more than 20 years.
Since 2016, Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) training at LSBU has been multi-professional, in line with the Health Education England (HEE) Multi-professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice in England (HEE, 2017).
The ACP courses are open to:
Our students work in a variety of diverse settings across primary care and secondary care, which combined with the multi-professional backgrounds of students, gives a diverse range of experience amongst student cohorts for individual students to draw on.
The MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (5537) is accredited with NHSE (formerly HEE).
The MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Adult) is sequenced following a spiral curriculum, and encompasses all four NHSE (HEE) pillars of Advanced Practice:
Module Sequence
All modules are at Master’s level (level 7).
Please note that the attendance days stated below and sequence of modules within each year may be subject to change.
There will be a 2-day induction prior to the start of the course.
Year 1, semester 1.
Thursday mornings x 12 weeks.
Assessment: three-hour exam.
Thursday afternoons x 12 weeks.
Assessment: A practice-based learning record and two OSCEs.
Possible prior accreditation.
Year 1, semester 2.
2-day blocks over 6 months.
Assessment: drug calculation exam, pharmacology exam, case presentation and a portfolio.
Possible prior accreditation.
If students cannot legally prescribe, they must undertake two extra modules, including WBL_7_001 (see below).
Year 2, semester 1.
Wednesday morning x 12 weeks.
Alternating clinical reasoning and related pathophysiology.
Assessment: 2.5 hour exam and practice-based learning record.
Year 2, semester 2.
Wednesday afternoon x 12 weeks.
Assessment: portfolio (4,000 words)
It is possible to withdraw from the course at this point with a PgD, awarded by LSBU. However, please note that from 2023 NHSE Centre for Advanced Practice states that: Graduates must only represent themselves as Advanced Clinical Practitioners if they complete the full MSc ACP award.
Year 3, semester 1.
Tuesday afternoon x 9 weeks
Assessment: practice development proposal (4,000 words)
Tuesday morning x 3 sessions.
Assessment: work-based learning project.
Or a 20 credit module of choice.
Possible prior accreditation.
Year 3, semester 2.
Thursday morning x 12 weeks.
Assessment: Practice-based learning record and a Viva (case presentation).
Advanced Clinical Assessment Skills (ACP_7_010) is subject to prior accreditation whereby students can transfer-in a similar completed module if it is level 7 and at least 20 credits.
Prescribing (NMP_7_040) can also be transferred-in if you are an existing registered and practicing prescriber. The qualification previously achieved can be at level 6 or 7, but if the number of credits is less than 40 an additional module may be required.
Enhancing Practice for Work Based Learning WBL_7_001, if a relevant module has been completed within the previous 4 years, can also be accredited.
Please note that credits used for entry (see entry requirements below) cannot also be used for prior accreditation of modules.
All other modules are core modules, and not open to prior accreditation.
Please contact the Course Director, nicky.bradley@lsbu.ac.uk if you believe that you have relevant prior accreditation for the transferable modules.
In order to apply academic learning to practice all students are required to dedicate the equivalent of 3 hours minimum per week throughout the calendar year (in addition to the study days in university) as protected learning time, working in a supernumerary capacity.
Throughout the course, with the exception of annual leave, students must be working at least 30 hours a week in a single clinical area, and have an allocated Practice Facilitator to supervise and support the applicant’s overall clinical development, and facilitate completion of specified practice-based learning activities. This is in addition to supervision and support from the wider clinical team.
The Practice Facilitator must be either a:
or:
Academic:
Applicants must be able to supply transcripts to demonstrate a minimum of 90 undergraduate degree (level 6) health-care related credits.
If you are uncertain as to whether you have achieved this, or if you are using a non-UK qualification, please contact the Course Director, nicky.bradley@lsbu.ac.uk.
Professional:
Students must hold registration as a Health Care Professional with one of the following:
Applicants must have a minimum of 3 years’ post-registration experience on entry to the module, and to be employed at a minimum of band 6 (or equivalent).
Practice:
Students must be 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):
Most students are funded by NHSE (HEE), this funding is requested by the applicant’s Trust or Training Hub. Whether students are funded by NHSE, or by the Trust or Training Hub, the application must be approved (via our Wozzad system) by the Trust or Training Hub as sponsor/employer.
Self-funding students do not need Trust or Training Hub approval for the application, but do need a strong commitment from the employer to supply the level of clinical supervision and support indicated above under entry requirements.
Regardless of funding, the HEE Centre for Advancing Practice website has valuable information regarding the role of the ACP, preparation for ACP study, and clinical supervision.