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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Advanced Person-Centred Care offers you the opportunity to consider and study a negotiated assignment within your sphere of professional practice. You will be asked to present a critical analysis of a case study relevant to your area of practice, utilising a person-centred care approach. This can focus on a full case study, a particular element of a case, or a specific area of treatment. Learning objectives will seek to guide you to enable the analysis and presentation of your chosen topic in a constructed way.

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.

Applied Nutrition for Health takes a lifespan approach to nutrition to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to disseminate nutritional recommendations for ‘optimal’ health. You will be provided with the opportunity to critically analyse the impact of nutrition on health status, from pre-conception to older age. Although this module will not enable health professionals to give detailed nutritional advice to clients, it will give greater insight regarding the importance of good nutrition in the promotion of health and the prevention of ill health. It will also raise awareness of the specific nutritional needs for different population groups and provide information regarding the role of multidisciplinary teams and when and how to refer clients to dietitians/nutritionists for more in-depth advice. You will be able to focus on a particular population group for assessment on the module, using a problem-solving approach.

HEA4242 Advanced Person-Centred Care (20 credits) and HUG4046 Applied Nutrition for Health (20 credits) added as optional modules.

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.

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.

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