Advanced Professional Practice (Clinical Practitioner)

The Advanced Professional Practice (Clinical Practitioner) course from University of Plymouth will develop your skills and knowledge in relation to assessment, clinical reasoning and formulation of appropriate differential diagnosis, diagnostic decision making and initiation or delivery of appropriate, timely care evidence-based care.

Clinically and academically focused, this Advanced Professional Practice (Clinical Practitioner) course from University of Plymouth is designed to prepare and support Nurses, Midwives, Paramedics, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Operating Department Practitioners and any HCPC/NMC/GPhC registered practitioner, to develop their knowledge and skills to be able to perform and deliver high quality Advanced Level practice in all clinical settings.

Career opportunities

This pathway of study is the first step to facilitate your career in Advanced Practice. As you proceed through the course, you will be in a role that supports your development and training, using the ‘title’ of trainee ACP. You’ll be able to apply for Band 7 and Band 8a roles; and work as an advanced clinical practitioner with an expert knowledge base, complex decision-making skills and clinical competencies for expanded autonomous scope of practice in your field of work.

On completion of this course, you’ll be able to assess, diagnose, treat and manage patients who present with undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions, across all sectors of healthcare (i.e. hospital, pre-hospital, primary care and secondary care settings). A majority of registered (NMC and HCPC) clinicians can also become non-medical independent prescribers (i.e. nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, physio’s, optometrists and many more) as directed by the disciplines own Codes of Conduct.

Career prospects after taking this program include advanced practice roles such as consultant roles, advanced specialist practice roles, education (i.e. clinical academic practitioner), research and audit.

You can work in a wide range of settings including: general practices, secondary care (all specialities), walk-in centres, minor injury units, out of hours services, urgent care centres and rapid response services, Emergency Departments, intermediate care teams, generalist and specialist acute services, critical care and intensive treatment units, elderly care facilities, prison services, refugee / asylum seekers and homeless projects, and outreach initiatives and innovative community-based services and many more.

Encompassing the essential four strands of advanced practice alongside interpersonal skills and insight are essential in ensuring that advanced practice is a sustainable development in the future workforce planning and longevity of the NHS.

Courses include:

• Advancing practice in context

• Advanced assessment for clinical practice

• Advanced concepts in research: methodology and methods

• Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning for Advanced Practice

• Substantive professional project