MSc Advanced Practice - Distance Learning

The Advanced Practice - Distance Learning programme allows you to complete a fully online MSc in Advanced Practice, offering flexibility in when and where you study, and accommodating your existing professional and personal commitments. The programme reflects national and international benchmarks for advanced level professional practice for the healthcare workforce, while supporting you to build a personalised qualification around your own advanced professional practice needs. The four pillars of advanced practice (Clinical, Research, Education and Management/ Leadership) are embedded explicitly in every module to advance your overall level of practice as well as developing you in your specific professional role, while a wide range of optional modules allow you to tailor the programme to the context of your own professional practice, enabling you to achieve optimal professional development.

About

The overarching philosophy of our programme is that advanced practice is all about reaching a level of practice, rather than a specific professional role. Suitable for all experienced health and care professionals, and open to both national and international applicants, it reflects professional, UK-wide government and international benchmarks for advanced level practice for the health and social care workforces. You will attain the contemporary knowledge and skills for advanced level practice.

Our aim is to help you to develop an academic preparedness for an advanced professional practice role. All of this is based on the four pillars of advanced practice – clinical, research, education and management/leadership – and the five key principles: autonomous practice, critical thinking, values-based care, improving practice, and high levels of decision-making and problem-solving. In addition to three core modules on the programme, you can select from a suite of optional modules that are relevant to your area of advanced practice. This allows you to tailor the course to your professional practice needs and across the pillars and principles. The emphasis of learning within each of the four pillars will be dependent on the modules you have selected. In this way, you can build a qualification specific to your individual requirements.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Full-time MSc AP DL students are required to complete a total of 180 credits: 80 CORE module credits and 100 OPTIONAL module credits, taking 60 per term. Please note that if you do not select Managing Yourself & Leading Others in Term 1, you will need to complete the Term 3 version.

Assessment for Year 1

You will experience a range of assessment methods throughout the course, which have been carefully considered to demonstrate learning across all the pillars and principles of advanced practice.

Formative and summative assessment strategies across the programme include written assignments, unseen examinations, case studies, and portfolio.

Compulsory Modules

MANAGING YOURSELF AND LEADING OTHERS

Code HSC-7126D

Credits 20

The aim of this module it to support you in developing a critical understanding of efficient and effective leadership, in order to manage yourself and lead others. You will be empowered to lead innovative change and organisational development through the fostering of a shared sense of leadership and responsibility for the success of the organisation and the development of quality services

MANAGING YOURSELF AND LEADING OTHERS

Code HSC-7126X

Credits 20

The aim of this module is to support practitioners to advance their knowledge and understanding of effective leadership and management in healthcare and themselves as a leader. Critical analysis and appraisal of leadership and management theory and the explicit use of critical reflection and self-assessment within the module will enable practitioners to evaluate their own leadership skills and how this influences, and are influenced by, the context in which they practise. The module emphasises the importance of effective leadership to facilitate learning in others and the critical consideration of how individuals can adopt an inclusive, empowering and collaborative approach to enhance the success of the individuals and services within their organisation.

LITERATURE REVIEW FOR SERVICE IMPROVEMENT

Code HSC-7183X

Credits 40

The aim of this module is for students to undertake a structured literature review relating to a practice-based area for improvement encountered by the learner in their healthcare practice. Learners will critically appraise and evaluate the evidence-base to achieve in-depth knowledge and understanding about the area for improvement and critically examine potential options to address the area for improvement, with a view to identifying and justifying a recommendation for a service improvement project. This module will build on learning throughout the programme, in particular the concepts and skills of evidence-based practice introduced in the Using Evidence to Lead and Advance Practice module, to enable learners to identify and critically evaluate evidence to inform service improvement.

USING EVIDENCE TO LEAD AND ADVANCE PRACTICE

Code HSC-7192D

Credits 20

This module will introduce the concepts and skills of evidence-based practice. In doing so, it will explore and critically analyse core theories, policies and models that support and underpin evidence-based practice. You will be facilitated to turn clinical and leadership queries into advanced practice focused questions, from which you can search the evidence. You will be supported to identify effective strategies for identifying and communicating the need for change associated with national and international quality standards and findings from research. You will also be introduced to a range of quantitative and qualitative research data collection and data analysis methods. These can be used to measure the impact of change in terms of quality improvement and transformation at the point of care within your area and scope of advanced practice.

Optional A Modules

(100 credits)

ADVANCED STOMA CARE

Code HSC-7023X

Credits 40

This module aims to enable stoma care specialist nurses to build in-depth and extensive knowledge, understanding and skills applied to all aspects of their role through critical evaluation of and reflection on their own professional responsibilities, the context in which they practice and the diverse and complex needs of the patient population they serve. Varied and innovative teaching and learning methods aim to develop critical thinking, communication skills, problem-solving and decision-making appropriate, and directly applied to, an advanced level of stoma care nursing practice. The module will aim to advance students’ specialist stoma care practice across the four pillars of advanced practice (Clinical, Research, Education, Management/leadership) and to develop and apply the underpinning principles of advanced practice within their specialist role, namely autonomous practice, critical thinking, high levels of decision-making and problem-solving, values-based care, and improving practice (NHS Education for Scotland, 2007).

MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS THE LIFESPAN

Code HSC-7101D

Credits 20

This module has been designed to meet the needs of diverse health and social care practitioners working across a range of community and inpatient hospital contexts, as well as in private, voluntary and statutory settings. It is aimed at health and social care professionals who would not regard themselves as mental health specialists, including those working in schools (such as teachers and school nurses), primary care health centres, and charitable or community organisations. The module content takes into account a potential lack of knowledge, skills and confidence that such practitioners may experience in assessing and managing a range of mental health issues in non-mental health specialist environments, working with children, young people and adults of any age.

DIABETES CARE

Code HSC-7107D

Credits 20

Globally, Diabetes Mellitus is a complex long-term condition with significant implications for morbidity and mortality and includes type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These issues can be reduced with good prevention and management strategies including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, appropriate for either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This module, delivered fully online, focuses on advancing students’ practice in the field of diabetes, through the acquisition of knowledge supported by the research evidence base. Learners will enhance their understanding of practice across the lifespan, in order to improve healthcare systems and provide high quality care for individuals living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. They will develop their autonomous practice, critical thinking, decision-making and problem-solving, values-based care and service improvement (NHS 2017). This module aims is designed around four pillars of advanced practice. These are Clinical, Research, Education and Management/Leadership, and are applicable across global healthcare systems.

LONG TERM CONDITIONS

Code HSC-7107E

Credits 20

This module supports practitioners in promoting person-centred care for the patient and their families/carers with a long-term condition. It will enable practitioners to understand the challenges and complexities of living with a long-term condition and the strategies and interventions used to support people to self-manage their illness. It will explore emerging models of service provision for the patient and provide opportunities for enhanced collaboration between services in the health and social care sectors, including primary, secondary and tertiary care. Central to this module is the significance of using evidence-based approaches to manage long-term conditions and to understand this in the context of contemporary health and social care practice. You’ll be encouraged to reflect on your practice and continuously be an advocate for driving and improving service provision within your own area of practice.

FOUNDATIONS OF END OF LIFE CARE

Code HSC-7139E

Credits 20

This module has been constructed to provide those delivering services, with the opportunity to explore this important and sometimes challenging area of practice, in a supportive environment that enables reflection on practice and development of knowledge and skills in end-of-life care. The modules create strong links between the student’s area of practice and topics covered in the module

CLINICAL DECISION MAKING

Code HSC-7163F

Credits 20

This module aims to prepare you to be able to manage complex clinical conditions using scientific and contemporary clinical knowledge to underpin action, reflection and evaluation. You will learn how to practice safely and effectively, incorporating a systems approach to clinical examination skills. You will understand the principles of assessment, the process of diagnosis, differential diagnosis, red flags and appropriate planning of care. It will support you to develop your practice as an advanced clinical practitioner to enable you to manage complex clinical conditions using scientific and contemporary clinical knowledge that is evidence based.

ENHANCING TEACHING LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT IN CLINICAL EDUCATION

Code HSC-7165E

Credits 20

This module will introduce you to the underpinning educational theory and practice required to enhance your clinical education role, particularly as a clinical supervisor, mentor, or practice educator. It recognises the uniqueness of learning in clinical and practice settings and the importance of the role of the educator in facilitating learning which occurs in the context of client care.You will develop skills and experience professional socialisation which cannot readily be acquired elsewhere. The overall aim of the module is to provide you with a body of knowledge and principles to facilitate teaching, learning and assessment in practice-based settings. This will enable you to work effectively with learners who will become the workforce of the future and ultimately to improve services.

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: A NATURE-NURTURE APPROACH

Code HSC-7174E

Credits 20

Pathophysiology examines the mechanisms that cause functional change in body systems. Comparing nature-nurture perspectives on the health & illness continuum, this module aims to facilitate the development of practitioners who can use their advanced physiological and clinical knowledge to critically analyse “holistic” care; explore the boundaries of current thinking and hypothesise future advances in healthcare. The module is designed to enable you to apply in-depth understanding of pathophysiology to underpin your practice and effectively meet the individualised healthcare needs of service users across the life course.

POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION

Code HSC-7187E

Credits 20

Within the political, social, technical, economic, organisational and professional contexts in which healthcare is delivered, this module explores how practitioners can utilise their expert power and negotiation skills to influence a culture of creativity and innovation for advancing practice.

DIAGNOSTIC INTERPRETATION

Code HSC-7189F

Credits 20

This module is designed for health professionals who use diagnostic tests in their current role, including diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers, physiotherapists, nurses, and advanced nurse practitioners. The module allows you to develop and apply skills to recognise normal and abnormal appearances of diagnostic imaging, have the ability to interpret laboratory investigations. By the end you will be able to synthesise clinical information commonly seen in health care settings with radiographic appearances, enabling you to describe the radiographic appearances in a structured format. Enabling you to make sound clinical judgements. Students must have completed Ionising radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R) training. This module is suitable for those students who are currently working towards an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) role for credentialing or in an advanced practitioner role that requires this from their employer. Students must be registered with either the NMC or HCPC and currently working in a health care setting.

ADVANCING PRACTICE IN DEMENTIA CARE

Code HSC-7194H

Credits 20

You will develop your skills and knowledge of working with people living with dementia across a wide range of community and inpatient settings. You will focus on improving your knowledge about and advancing practice in dementia, person-centred care and care interactions.

WORKING WITH OLDER PEOPLE: BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACHES

Code HSC-7195X

Credits 20

This module is about developing your skills and knowledge for working with older people across a wide range of community and inpatient settings. The focus is on improving knowledge about, and advancing practice in, working with older people from biological, psychological and social perspectives.

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION PORTFOLIO

Code HSC-7199D

Credits 20

The aim of this module is to provide the students the means to develop a professional recognition portfolio that demonstrates their learning through a series of self - assessment, reflections and case studies. The portfolio will be personal to the students own Advanced Professional Practice Development .The work included within the portfolio should demonstrate student learning and development across the four pillars of advanced practice  Clinical  Research  Education  Management/leadership and the underpinning principles of advanced practice  Autonomous practice  Critical thinking  High levels of decision-making and problem-solving  Values-based care

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION PORTFOLIO

Code HSC-7199F

Credits 20

You will develop a professional recognition portfolio that demonstrates your learning through a series of self - assessment, reflections and case studies. The portfolio will be personal to your own Advanced Professional Practice Development. The work included within the portfolio should demonstrate your learning and development across the four pillars of advanced practice: • Clinical • Research • Education • Management/leadership Together with the underpinning principles of advanced practice: • Autonomous practice • Critical thinking • High levels of decision-making and problem-solving • Values-based care This can be a stand-alone module or part of the MSc Advanced Professional Practice programme (L7).

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Open Days

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring and review of modules. Where this activity leads to significant change to a programme and modules, the University will endeavour to consult with affected students. The University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. Availability of optional modules may be restricted owing to timetabling, lack of demand, or limited places. Where this is the case, you will be asked to make alternative module choices and you will be supported during this process.

MSc ADVANCED PRACTICE - DISTANCE LEARNING