Advanced Physical Assessment and Disease Management Skills

By having both a theoretical and clinical component, you extend your practice and gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be operational in the physical assessment, diagnosis and patient management elements of advanced practice.

You focus on developing advanced competence in clinical assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and patient centred evidence-based therapeutics. Physical assessment skills and diagnostic reasoning sessions will develop your knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology as applied to the diagnostic process. An appropriately qualified and experienced advanced practitioner is required to act as a nominated clinical supervisor for the duration of the module, for example a doctor, or someone with a master's level advanced clinical practice qualification.

Funding 2022/23
Funded places may be available. You will be notified if you are eligible for a funded place within your organisation once you have applied.

You gain advanced knowledge and skills in the areas of:
– investigative analysis, for example bloods, chest X-ray, ECG
– advanced clinical assessment including focused history, examination and diagnostics within the professional scope
– clinical management and case review in minor, acute, chronic and complex disease states with co-morbidity
– evidence-based therapeutic intervention in common minor, acute and chronic disease of body systems, including disorders of the following systems: pulmonary, cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal, renal/GU, endocrine, gastrointestinal, haematology/oncology, HENT and skin.

How you learn

The module is delivered face to face over six full day sessions delivered every other week. Learning materials are made available via the blackboard ultra site as the module progresses. Morning sessions will concentrate on synthesis of history, differential diagnosis, clinical reasoning, investigations, and underlying pathophysiology of body systems using case studies and class based discussion. Afternoons will be used for you to practice your physical assessment skills in a focused way, combining examination of multiple body systems. .

Work-based experience and independent learning will be a strong focus of this module to optimise application of knowledge to practice and this will be supported by a workbook. The work-based experience will involve you developing knowledge and skills in the assessment and management of patient cases.

The summative assessment has two components.

1. A modified objective structured long examination review (MOSLER), comprising a patient history taking, focused physical examination, formulation of a differential diagnosis, requesting appropriate investigations, and a plan for further management. This will be observed by the clinical or academic supervisor, and a viva type discussion will then follow where the student will be expected to justify their actions and articulate the synthesis of their thought processes regarding the patient's presentation and subsequent management. This component is pass/fail.

2. A 30-question online exam lasting 90 minutes comprising a mix of multiple choice and extended matching questions. The percentage mark for the exam will be the overall mark for the module if both components are passed.

Both components need to be completed successfully to attain a pass.

You are assessed on your ability to:

– demonstrate safe clinical judgement in the application of core clinical skills and disease knowledge in undertaking the correct focused history and examinations pertinent to a patient's presentation
– delineate a working diagnosis based on analysis of the patient data obtained from the focused clinical assessment
– demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of the use of best evidence in supporting the patient's clinical assessment and case management
– demonstrate capacity to critically evaluate the evidence on which the management plan is based for any limitations which may be pertinent to a patient's clinical profile
– demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of the physiological processes associated with the presenting patient's signs and symptoms. As well as the interrelationship between signs and symptoms.

A bachelor degree with a minimum of 65%, 2.5/4.0 or good

There are now many requirements for practitioners with physical assessment skills capacity in all areas of health care.

Personal Details

- Full Name, including title
- Sex
- Date of Birth
- E-mail Address
- Telephone Number
- Home and Correspondence addresses, including postcode
- Alternative email Addresses
- Country of Permanent Residence or Local Authority
- Country of Birth
- Nationality
- Ethnicity - this data will not be accessible to those making the application decision
- Type of applicant - choose from UK/EU or Overseas
- Who is entering the application - choose from Applicant, University Staff/Overseas Office or Other Third Party
- Disability
- Whether your parents/guardians have Higher Education qualifications
- Details of any previous study or application to this University

Payment of Fees

- Who is paying your fees
- Name and address of your Fee Payer
- Details of any previous funding body and previous course

Overseas Applicants Only

- Date of entry to UK/EU
- Passport Number (if you need a visa)
- Previous UK study, including details of any previous visas, overstays in the UK and visa refusals

University Staff and Office/Agent Applications Only

- School/Office Code
- Agent Code
- Agent Name
- Agent Company
- Reference Number

Qualifications

Qualifications Held (maximum of 6)
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this information is not requested)

- Year and month awarded
- Qualification type, level and subject
- Grade
- Awarding Establishment e.g. College/University Name

Qualifications Pending (maximum of 6)
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this information is not requested)

- Year and month of exam
- Qualification type, level and subject
- Date grade expected
- Awarding Establishment e.g. College/University Name

Highest qualification

Portfolio Details

Foreign Language Courses Only

- Qualifications and experience in chosen language
- where more than one occurence of a courses runs in paralell, indicate which group you wish to join

Professional Qualifications

- Professional/Statutory Body and Registration PIN
- Other course specific professional details as required

School of Health & Social Care courses only

- NHS PIN
- NHS Trust / Practice details
- National Insurance Number
- Assignment/Employee Number
- Line manager name and email address
- Full or part time
- Pay band
- Profession, Staff Group and Job Role
- Other course specific details as required

Social Work Practice Education courses only

- Social Work Registration Number

Erasmus Applications

Details of the Exchange Co-ordinator at Your Home Institution
- Name
- Position
- Email Address

Higher and Degree Apprenticeships

- Unique Learner Number
- National Insurance Number
- *Employer Code
- *Employer Postcode (This is your normal place of work which may be different from the company's main postcode)
- *Number of employees at this postcode
- Highest level qualifications in English language and mathematics

*Your employer should be able to supply this information

Last Two Education Establishments Attended
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this information is not requested)

- Name and address
- Dates from and to
- Full or Part time
- Level of study

English Language Ability
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this information is not requested)

Whether English is your first language

If not

- IELTS - score, date of exam and Test Report Form Number
- Other test - name, score and date of exam

Work Experience (maximum of 2)
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, a reduced set of employment information is requested)

- Employers name
- Job title
- Dates from and to
- Full or Part time
- Main responsibilities

Summer & Winter University Courses Only

- Whether you are enrolled or due to enrol on a college or university course
- If so, where and which course
- Whether you are thinking of starting a Higher Education course
- If so, area of interest/study
- Reason for applying to Summer/Winter University

Referee
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this information is not requested)

- Name
- Address
- Other contact details

Note : some course will require two referees, e.g. PHD courses

Personal Statement
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this information is not requested)

Can be uploaded as a document or entered as text

It is suggested that your statement is prepared electronically in advance of starting the application

Enrolment

Some short courses may ask you to provide enrolment information as part of the application. This will require extra details but also means you will not be asked to complete the full on-line registration process at a later date.

This data will not be accessible to those making the application decision

- Type of Term-time Accomodation
- Next of Kin Name
- Next of Kin Telephone Number
- Next of Kin Relationship
- Religious Beliefs
- Criminal Conviction Declaration

Documents currently available for upload
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this option is not available)

- Reference
- Personal Statement
- CV
- Results
- Proof of English Language Qualifications, e.g. IELTS or TOEFL certificate
- Passport
- Previous Visas
- Previous Visa Refusals

For Research courses, the following additional uploads are mandatory

- Research Proposal
- Research Training Document
- Research Personal Statement
- Research Sponsorship/funding letter