MSc Advanced Clinical Practice

Overview

Course Length:2-4.5 Years Part-Time
Start Dates:September 2019, February 2020, September 2020, February 2021
Department:Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine
Location:Edge Hill University
  • Become a highly effective leader who can demonstrate a high level of autonomy in your specialist area of practice;
  • Gain the skills and knowledge to assess the development needs of yourself and other members of a clinical practice team;
  • Critically appraise and synthesise the outcome of relevant research to devise evidence-based strategies which underpin practice.

This programme is designed to enable health and social care professionals to extend their knowledge to an advanced level within their specialist field of practice. It is suitable both for individuals who wish to become advanced practitioners, or for those individuals who wish to promote the advance of practice within their field of work.

The course consists of a wide range of highly flexible taught and work-based learning modules that will enable busy practitioners to access patient-care enhancing education.

Student and Alumni Profiles

  • Madeline Murdoch

    MSc Advanced Practice
    Edge Hill University has been a great place to study with the high level of support and the experience of the tutors particularly standing out to me.
     View full profile

In Depth

What will I study?

The course will allow you to develop a systematic and critical understanding of the breadth and depth of knowledge within your specialist area of practice whilst also learning:

  • How to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively and make sound judgements in the absence of complete data;
  • How to elicit and record an accurate clinical history, perform a clinical examination, successfully interpret clinical diagnostic results and devise a clinical management plan;
  • How to operate ethically in complex and unpredictable specialist situations with a critical understanding of the issues governing effective practice;
  • High levels of autonomy and advanced decision making skills that can be applied to your specialist area of practice;
  • A critical understanding of research methodologies and the ability to evaluate, synthesise, generate and disseminate the findings of research.

In addition to the taught course, past and present students of the programme are invited to join the informal Edge Hill Advanced Practice Forum which typically meets twice a year.

How will I study?

Diverse teaching and learning strategies will be used, ranging from individual personal teacher contact to supported online learning, small group work to teacher-led lectures.

While the majority of classes will take place at Edge Hill University, some modules may involve studying at sites other than Ormskirk in which case you will be responsible for travel and parking costs.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment methods vary according to the demands of the module but can be through assignments, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, portfolios, seminar presentations and work-based learning projects.

Who will be teaching me?

The programme team comprises of expert staff with many years experience in clinical practice in areas such as intensive care, coronary care, forensic mental health, primary care and medical practice.

You will also be taught by associate tutors from primary and secondary care, neurology, paramedic practice, biological sciences and areas of senior healthcare management.

A Great Study Environment

The Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine is one of the leading providers of education and training for health and social care professionals in the North West of England.

Offering some of the best facilities for health, social care and medicine students in the country, the outstanding teaching and learning resources include leading edge clinical skills facilities, an 860-seat lecture theatre, and a variety of teaching rooms and social learning spaces.

The faculty is home to a thriving research culture which includes a series of staff and student conference programmes, guest lectures and seminars, as well as active research groups.

Modules

Expand All

HEA4025Clinical Assessment and Diagnostics (20 credits)

Clinical Assessment and Diagnostics equips you with the knowledge and skills required to elicit and record an accurate clinical history, perform a clinical examination focusing upon the major body systems and successfully interpret clinical diagnostic results, for patients aged 16 years or over so as to inform a clinical management plan.


Assessment: Written Exam(s): 100%, Practical(s): Pass/Fail Element.

HEA4241Developing Practice Capability in Advanced Care (20 credits)

Developing Practice Capability in Advanced Care enables you to undertake clinical assessment and diagnostic skills within a practice setting. You will be supported in developing and demonstrating key advanced clinical practice skills in seven key systems of the body.


Assessment: Practical(s): 100%.

HEA4244Research Inquiry for Advanced Practice (40 credits)

Research Inquiry for Advanced Practice enables you to apply your specialist advanced clinical knowledge to developing a research project which has a direct link to your specialist area of clinical practice. The project will involve either the critical deconstruction and analysis of a policy or guideline, a systematic review of the literature in relation to a chosen topic, or conducting a change in practice or demonstrating a clinical audit. You will critically analyse the evidence related to the approach and topic that you have chosen and adhere to appropriate ethical guidelines if undertaking a change or audit in practice.


Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

HEA4444Research Methods (20 credits)

Research Methods introduces you to the research process including the philosophical fundamentals of both quantitative and qualitative traditions and a range of research methodologies. The module will enable you to demonstrate the ability to critically appraise a range of research methodologies and plan a small-scale empirical project in your chosen discipline, as well as gaining awareness of the theoretical and practical implications of undertaking such a study.


Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

HEA9055Context of Advanced Practice (20 credits)

Context of Advanced Practice is designed to provide a strong foundation to prepare you to operate safely and purposely at an advanced and increasingly autonomous level within your area of practice. Therefore, professional, legal and ethical accountabilities will be explored as will the necessary approaches to governance, risk management, and practice development. These themes will subsequently be incorporated into a critical examination of the constituents of undertaking therapeutic interventions with individuals’ families and carers.


Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

You will study 60 credits chosen from the following optional modules or the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine’s CPD portfolio (subject to agreement with the programme leader).

CPD4454Teaching and Learning in the Clinical Context (20 credits)

Teaching and Learning in the Clinical Context introduces and raises awareness of the key concepts involved in teaching and facilitating learning in both the clinical context and Higher Education. The module critically examines theories of learning and teaching and their relevance to learning and teaching facilitation in the clinical context. Topics include using the clinical environment for the teaching and facilitation of learning; theories of learning; aligning learning, teaching and assessment; reflective learning and a philosophy of teaching.


Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

HEA4034Negotiated Learning Shell (20 credits)

Negotiated Learning Shell provides an opportunity for you to study a topic or work-related issue at Masters level. It involves you identifying the chosen area for study before developing and negotiating a learning contract, which will outline the what, how, when, where and why of the study period as well as the means of assessment to showcase the acquired learning.


Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

HEA4105Independent and Supplementary Non-Medical Prescribing (30 credits)

Independent and Supplementary Non-Medical Prescribing is validated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the General Pharmaceutical Council. The module is designed to prepare nurses, pharmacists and eligible allied health professionals to prescribe safely, appropriately and competently within the relevant area of clinical expertise and in compliance with current prescribing legislation.


Assessment: Coursework: 100%, Written Exam(s): Pass/Fail Element, Practical(s): Pass/Fail Element.

HEA4178Management of Frailty (20 credits)

Management of Frailty will help you to develop the expert skills and knowledge required to identify and manage the frail population within the primary care setting. The module will encourage you to explore the anatomy and physiology of ageing and perform a critical appraisal of the assessment strategies used in practice. An evaluation of the impact of intervention measures within practice and the wider health economy will be developed.


Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

HEA4195Ethics, The Law and Decision Making (20 credits)

Ethics, The Law and Decision Making enables you to critically analyse the relationship between bioethical theories and the law’s application of these, in the context of decision-making in clinical practice. You will explore how bioethical theory is interpreted within professional standards and the law. You will also be encouraged to build upon existing knowledge and practice experience to develop a critical understanding of the complex issues that affect decision making.


Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

HEA4208Strategic Clinical Leadership (20 credits)

Strategic Clinical Leadership provides a critical and evaluative perspective on leadership theories, styles and approaches in the context of health and social care. The module will facilitate the enhancement of your skills in the transfer of theoretical perspectives to practice and in the development of a strategic focus. You will critically appraise theoretical modelling frameworks of leadership and critically debate their relevance to current practice within the context of health and social care. You will also evaluate the multi-factorial influences which impact on the role of leaders within health and social care.


Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

HEA9085Mental Health Law and Defensible Practice (20 credits)

Mental Health Law and Defensible Practice recognises that essentially the statutory roles of staff in practice have changed significantly with the amendments to the Mental Health Act. Traditional roles undertaken by social workers and doctors have now been broadened to other registered professions such as nurses, occupational therapists and psychologists. Therefore, a gap exists in the skill development of staff in practice to work with the new legislation and gain a robust evidence base to support clinical decision making. With this in mind, the module will advance your mental health practice.


Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

Optional modules provide an element of choice within the programme curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements.

For more information about each module, including the dates and times of module sessions, please visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/cpdmodules.

Timetables

You can expect to receive your timetable at enrolment. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day or evening of the week.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information, however our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.

Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Entry Criteria

Entry Requirements

The normal minimum requirement is to be a practitioner who is a member of a statutorily regulated profession, with three years’ experience in practice (or equivalent).

A lower second-class honours degree in a health-related subject is desirable, but not essential. Evidence of experiential learning and ability to study at a higher academic level should be provided as part of the application process.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Edge Hill University recognises learning gained elsewhere, whether through academic credit and qualifications acquired from other relevant courses of study or through recognition of an individual’s professional and employment experience (also referred to as ‘experiential learning’).

Previous learning that is recognised in this way may be used towards meeting the entry requirements for a programme and/or for exemption from part of a programme. It is your responsibility to make a claim for recognition of prior learning. For guidance, please consult the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning Policy and contact the faculty in which you are interested in studying.

Career Prospects

What are my career prospects?

This programme will enhance your ability to gain employment in more senior roles as an advanced practitioner, within your chosen field of healthcare.

Successful completion of this MSc enables you to meet Health Education North West’s requirements to practice at an advanced level across the health professions spectrum, including roles such as paramedics, operating department practitioners, nurses, dietitians, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Finance

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for part-time study on this MSc are:

  • £34 per credit for UK and EU students enrolling on the programme in academic year 2019/20, i.e. £680 per 20 credit module;
  • £34 per credit for UK and EU students enrolling on the programme in academic year 2020/21, i.e. £680 per 20 credit module (pending confirmation of arrangements for EU students).

180 credits are required to complete a Masters degree.

The University may administer a small inflationary rise in part-time postgraduate tuition fees in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

Financial Support

For comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK and EU students joining postgraduate courses at Edge Hill University in academic year 2019/20, together with details of how to apply for potential funding, please view our Money Matters 2019/20 guide at www.edgehill.ac.uk/postgradfinance2019.

Financial support arrangements for eligible UK and EU students joining postgraduate courses in academic year 2020/21 are still to be announced. You are advised to check this page regularly and once the position has been confirmed we will update this information.

Apply

How to Apply

Apply directly to Edge Hill University.

Download the Health and Social Care Professional Development pathway application form and notes for guidance (pdf).

Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

Get in Touch

If you have any questions about this programme, please contact:

  • Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine Student Recruitment and Marketing Support Team
  • Tel: 01695 657249
  • Email: cpdenquiries@edgehill.ac.uk

If you would like to talk to the programme leader about the course in more detail, please contact:

or

Course Changes

Expand All This page outlines any material changes to course content, programme structure, assessment methods, entry criteria, and modes of study or delivery, implemented in the past two years.

28th May 2019 - Change to Entry Requirements

The entry requirements for the programme have been revised to the following:

The normal minimum requirement is to be a practitioner who is a member of a statutorily regulated profession, with three years\’ experience in practice (or equivalent).

A lower second-class honours degree in a health-related subject is desirable, but not essential. Evidence of experiential learning and ability to study at a higher academic level should be provided as part of the application process.

28th May 2019 - Change of Programme Title and Modules

Change of programme title from MSc Advanced Practice. HEA4045 Research: The Development of a Research Proposal (20 credits) and HEA4196 Advancing Practice Project – Clinical Practice (60 credits) removed as compulsory modules. HEA4241 Developing Practice Capability in Advanced Care (20 credits), HEA4244 Research Inquiry for Advanced Practice (20 credits) and HEA4444 Research Methods (20 credits) added as compulsory modules. HEA4179 Primary Care Work Based Learning (20 credits) removed as an optional module. CPD4454 Teaching and Learning in the Clinical Context (20 credits), HEA4034 Negotiated Learning Shell 7.20 (20 credits), HEA4105 Independent and Supplementary Non Medical Prescribing (30 credits), HEA4195 Ethics, The Law and Decision Making (20 credits), HEA4208 Strategic Clinical Leadership (20 credits) and HEA4242 Advanced Person-Centred Care (20 credits) added as optional modules.

15th August 2018 - New Module Added

HEA4220 Promoting Professionalism and Ethics in Multidisciplinary Practice (20 credits) added as an optional module on all pathways.