Advanced Clinical Practice MSc (ACP)

Course Details

 Advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) enhance capacity and capability within teams by supporting existing and more established roles. They improve clinical continuity, provide more patient-focused care, enhance the inter-professional team and help to provide safe, accessible and high-quality care for patients (HEE).

Our MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice programme is designed in a systematic manner using a modular approach which enables it to be flexible enough to respond to the needs of stakeholders whilst recognising that students studying this programme will also be employed within practice settings.

Our MSc ACP suite of programmes will be delivered by a range of teaching methods such as core lectures, group work, online activities, use of case studies and clinical simulation to compliment and enhance work-based learning objectives. Shared learning with other professionals will be a focus of this course and you will be encouraged to develop a critical, evaluative approach to the knowledge embedding the four pillars of advanced clinical practice.

The full MSc Advanced Clinical Practice award consists of five compulsory modules (180 credits) which include:

• ◾NURM080 Advanced Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (40 credits)
  ◾NURM081 Diagnostic Reasoning for Practice (20 credits)
  ◾NURM114 Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (40 credits)
  ◾NURM079 Educating and Influencing Others in Healthcare (20 credits)
  ◾OTHM010 Professional Project (60 credits)

The PGCert requires you to complete NURM080 and NURM081 (60 credits)

The PGDip requires you to complete NURM080, NURM081, NURM114 and NURM079 (120 credits)

For further information please see https://www.northampton.ac.uk/courses/advanced-clinical-practice-msc/

For further information on the above awards or its associated modules, please contact the team on advancedpractice@northampton.ac.uk

Please be aware that there are limited places available for this programme. All applicants will need to attend a funding interview w/c 20th November

Modules

Module information can be found on the Award Map:

• ◾Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Practice
  ◾Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Practice
  ◾MSc Advanced Clinical Practice
  ◾MSc Advanced Clinical Practice Top-Up

The MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) apprenticeship programme will develop and equip healthcare professionals with the key skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to independently manage defined episodes of clinical care whilst demonstrating expertise within their scope of practice. It is linked to the four pillars of ACP (clinical, education, leadership and research) and aims to enhance service delivery and improve patient health outcomes.

Centre for Advancing Practice accreditation

This programme is accredited by the Centre of Advancing Practice. Health Education England’s Centre for Advancing Practice has been established to standardise post-registration education by accrediting advanced practice courses that achieve the standards outlined in the multi-professional Advanced Practice Framework.

Practitioners who have completed accredited education programmes will be eligible to be listed on the Centre’s Advanced Practice Directory.

Programme accreditation from the Centre for Advancing Practice will bring a new level of consistency to the workforce and help showcase advanced practice within health and social care.

Modules

Completion of 180 credits at Level 7 (final 20 credits contains the End Point Assessment (EPA).

Year One
•Advanced Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (Work Based Learning) (40 credits)
•Diagnostic Reasoning for Practice (20 credits)

Year Two
•Educating and Influencing Others in Health Care (20 credits)

And either
•Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (40 credits) (prescribing route)

Or
•Leading People in Health and Social Care Organisations (20 credits)
•Contemporary Communities of Practice (20 credits) (non-prescribing route)

Year Three
•Advanced Professional Project (40 credits)
•Preparation for EPA (20 credits)

Duration

36 months with End Point Assessment (EPA) afterwards.

Assessment strategy

Assessment strategies in this programme are varied, offering students the opportunity through critical reflection to review learning, development and practice in relation to ACP and achievement of the relevant apprenticeship standards aimed at preparing the student for the EPA.

Delivery model

The programme utilises the multi-professional active-blended learning and teaching approach that currently exists on our established MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner programme. Each module requires part-time university attendance and supports attainment of the 20% off-the-job training requirement.

Entry requirements

• •Sponsored by an employer
  •Maths and English at Level 2
  •An appropriate healthcare or bachelor’s degree with honours
  •Students must be employed within a relevant health and social care related environment
  •UK registered healthcare professional with a minimum three years of post-registration experience.

Each application is considered on its own merit. Mature student application is strongly encouraged.