Developing advanced clinical practice

What you will study

Block one: Introduction to advanced practice encompasses the key principles of advanced level practice and provides core skills learning. It consists of:

• Learning guide 1: Foundations for advanced thinking and advanced practice
• Learning guide 2: Communication and decision making
• Day school 1

This block explores what advanced level practice looks like and focuses on development of critical thinking, advanced communication, and decision-making skills. You’ll reflect on your own professional role, envisage your advancing practice, and apply theory to practice. The skills developed within block one enables you to progress your practice-based learning whilst allowing you to explore your own particular learning needs and carve out your advanced role.

Block two: Clinical dimensions of advanced practice incorporates practice-based knowledge and skills development. It includes:

• Learning guide 3: Biomedical basis of advanced clinical practice
• Learning guide 4: ‘What’s wrong?’ Clinical consultation (history taking)
• Learning guide 5: Pathophysiology and Examination
• Learning guide 6: ‘What’s to be done?’ Clinical consultation (planning and doing)
• Day school 2

This block concentrates on the clinical elements of advanced clinical practice and equips you with the core practice-based capabilities. You will be facilitated to develop the biomedical knowledge required to perform safe and effective advanced clinical assessment, pertinent to your field of practice. Building on the learning from block one, you'll develop your abilities in the use of assessment data and clinical judgement, in order to reach independent diagnostic conclusions and complete full episodes of care. You will enhance your knowledge and understanding of relevant pathophysiology and health and wellbeing, and you will advance your skills in physical examination, shared decision making and therapeutic interventions.

Block three: Educating and leading through advanced practice is aimed at developing broader advanced practitioner expertise, and includes:

• Learning guide 7: Developing yourself and others
• Learning guide 8: Leading in practice
• Learning guide 9: Preparing for your End-of-module assessment (EMA)

This final block provides opportunities to develop educational and leadership capabilities as part of your advanced clinical practice, and to review your own learning throughout the module. You will apply key principles to enhance your skills in facilitation of learning, and will demonstrate your abilities in leadership, management and collaborative practice, as part of your advancing role.

You will learn

This module is designed to enable you to progress your development of professional capabilities across the four pillars of advanced clinical practice – clinical practice; education and facilitation of learning; research and evidence-based practice; and leadership, management and collaborative practice. Learning outcomes reflect these pillars and are based on the key standards for advanced practice.

On successful completion of the module, you will demonstrate developing advanced practice skills; increased confidence in critical analysis; and enhanced knowledge and understanding of the broadened level of responsibility and autonomy associated with advanced practice in your own professional field.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will be supported throughout your studies by your tutor, practice supervisor and peers, during scheduled tutorials, day schools, online forums, and supervised practice.

We recognise that learners start with different levels and types of knowledge (intellectual and practical; specialist and clinical). This module will provide you with a broad and solid foundation of core skills and knowledge in relation to advanced clinical practice. You will be supported throughout to reflect on your current capabilities and learning needs in order to develop your own scope of advanced practice. This will be achieved through focused online activities and individual and group support including tutor advice and guidance throughout the module.

Your learning will be supported through:

• Two online day schools with simulated practice learning (12 hours)
• Six 2-hour online group tutorials via Adobe Connect (12 hours).
• Online tutor group forums with regular discussion activities.
• Online learning guides – these introduce key theory and practice-based principles, and incorporate a wide variety of activities and resources appropriate to advanced practice and masters level study.

Activities and resources include:

• Simulated practice videos, scenarios and case studies.
• Reflection on practice and development of practice-based skills (supported by your practice supervisor).
• Self-assessment of learning needs and developing a learning plan.
• Directed online learning (e.g. reviewing and responding to key texts; journal articles; video or audio resources).
• Directed practice-based learning (e.g. observations of practice; student-led discussions with practice supervisors).
• Interactive activities (e.g. quizzes, e-resources such as anatomy tv and interactive clinical examination videos).
• Productive activities (e.g. creating own materials and development of eportfolio evidence).
• Finding and handling information (e.g. literature searching and appraisal of evidence; accessing and working with clinical documents and guidelines; working with own resources).

Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above, and includes:

• Four tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) – One formative (zero weighting) assignment to identify your learning needs and development plan at the outset, and three assignments that include a variety of linked assessment activities relating to your advanced practice.
• Attendance at the two online day schools.
• End-of-module assessment (EMA) – this consists of an eportfolio to evidence your advanced practice capabilities, signed off by your practice supervisor, and a 3000-word critical evaluation of your learning throughout the module.

Tutor-marked assignments are scheduled at various points throughout the module. They build on your learning within particular blocks, and on previous assessment activities. All assessments require the application of theory to your own clinical practice and reflect the 50:50 theory/practice split within the module. Extensive guidance is given on all assignments submitted.