Advanced Clinical Assessment and Examination (Advancing Practice)
Develop systematic clinical examination skills and gain the knowledge to promote autonomous clinical decision making by synthesising key clinical findings in determining differential diagnosis and management of patients.
Key facts
Overview
This module is for experienced healthcare practitioners in a relevant field of practice, such as an advanced practitioner (or trainee), who want to develop systematic clinical examination skills. This module will provide baseline knowledge to promote autonomous clinical decision making by synthesising key clinical findings in determining differential diagnosis and management of patients.
This module may be completed as a single credit-based module. Alternatively, you can use it as credit towards MSc in Advancing Practice.
Application procedure
Applicants must complete two forms to apply for this module. These are:
- The online application form, which you can access by the "Apply now" link at the top of this page.
- The Practice Assessor Agreement ACE supervisor form (.docx), which must be completed as part of your application and approved by the module co-ordinator prior to your admission to this module. It is important you submit this at least 4 weeks prior to the module starting.
Please ensure all sections of the application pack are completed and returned. You must complete both forms to apply for this module.
Practice Assessor
The student must have one designated healthcare practitioner, the Practice Assessor, who is responsible for facilitating appropriate learning opportunities and assessing the student’s clinical history taking and clinical examination skills. Other qualified healthcare practitioners may contribute to providing appropriate learning experiences as Practice Supervisors, but the responsibility for assessing clinical practice rests with the Practice Assessor.
The Practice Assessor must be a suitably qualified registered healthcare practitioner who:
- Is currently registered with NMC, GMC, HCPC or GPC.
- Has had at least 3 years post-registration experience with overall clinical responsibility for a group of patients/clients in their relevant field of practice.
- If they are registered with GMC, they must be based within a GP practice, or working as a specialist registrar, non-consultant career grade, or consultant.
- For NMC, HCPC and GPC registrants the expectation is that the practice assessor is a suitably qualified and experienced advanced practitioner who is an expert in clinical history taking and clinical examination.
- Has support of the employing organisation or GP practice to act as the Practice Assessor for the Advanced Clinical Assessment module and has experience in training and teaching and/or supervising in practice.
Flexible learning
This short course forms part of the MSc Advancing Practice. You can study other stand-alone continuing professional development (CPD) short courses from this degree:
- Advanced Practice
- An Integrated Approach to Frailty
- Diagnosis and Decision Making in Advanced Practice
- Essentials of Mental Health Assessment – a multi-professional approach
- Evidence Based Practice
- Living with Long Term Conditions: Care and Management
- Prescribing for Healthcare Professionals (Advancing Practice)
If you’re interested in studying more than one module from this course, please email our Admissions team at postgraduate.admissions@stir.ac.uk to discuss your course of study.
Entrance requirements
This module only accepts applicants with current valid professional registration from either the NMC, HCPC or GPC.
Applicants are required to have a degree qualification.
Students are required to be supported by their line manager to undertake this module. They must also identify a Practice Assessor who will be responsible for overseeing the clinical practice elements of this module.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Funding
A flexible payment scheme is operated by the University for students who are self-funding.
Objectives
This module will enable you to:
- Demonstrate competence when undertaking clinical history and assessment of individual patients, including clinical examination of physiological systems.
- Synthesise clinical data obtained from the clinical history and assessment of individual patients.
- Evaluate common pathologies within the care context using clinical information.
- Critically examine the challenges in managing and/or appropriately referring and prioritising individual patients with undifferentiated conditions.
- Demonstrate and apply a systematic approach to documentation skills
- Critically reflect on the development of personal and professional practice with regard to role in the clinical history, assessment and examination of individual patients
Structure and content
A student-centred approach to teaching and learning is utilised offering flexibility throughout this CPD module. A blended approach will be used, with teaching taking place on a Wednesday using a combination of fortnightly face-to-face practical days and lectures. The online synchronous and asynchronous lectures will be recorded and can be accessed at any time. Attendance at the face-to-face practical days is highly recommended.
You will also have access to a variety of online learning content and activities, discussion boards and the opportunity to participate in face-to-face interactions with fellow students and the Module Co-ordinator.
Delivery and assessment
The module will be delivered predominantly online. The module comprises three assessments:
- Clinical portfolio (60%)
- Clinical learning hours
- Clinical competencies
- Clinical proformas (include reference to the literature)
- Mini-CEXs
- Clinical checklists
- Reflective case study (20%)
- 2,000-word critical reflective practice case study
- Online examination (20%)
- Multiple choice timed online examination
Module coordinator
Mrs Marianne Fairley-Murdoch
Employability
This module will prepare you for a trainee or advanced practice role. You are encouraged to view your participation within this module or as part of the MSc Advancing Practice programme as a means of supporting your professional development plans (PDP) and career progression.
This module may be completed as a single credit-based module. However, if you wish to exit with a qualification you must enrol on the MSc Advancing Practice programme.
Modules will be offered subject to demand and need to meet a minimum class size of eight students. This module has a cap on the maximum number of students and is extremely popular therefore, you should apply as early as possible. A waiting list may be in operation.
Career opportunities
Completion of the Advanced Clinical Assessment and Examination module provides an opportunity to develop clinical decision-making and assessment skills. This will optimise the ability of each student to impact the experience of individuals, families and service providers within a range of clinical settings within the UK and internationally.
What next?
Contact us
If you have any questions about entry requirements for our continuing professional development and short courses, contact our Admissions team.
For all other questions, please use our enquiry form.