This Advanced Clinical Practice course will provide aspiring healthcare professionals with a comprehensive programme of preparation that develops an advanced level of practice.

It recognises the accepted international benchmark for advanced practice.

Advanced Clinical Practitioners are highly experienced and educated members of the care team who are able to diagnose and treat healthcare needs or make a referral to an appropriate specialist. They can take a comprehensive patient history, carry out detailed assessments and use their expert knowledge to carry out treatment, and provide skilled and competent care along with evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.

Our clinical partners in NHS Scotland have contributed to the development of the course so that you can develop the knowledge and skills required to engage in the delivery of an advanced level of practice. The course is structured around the real challenges facing advanced clinical practitioners and each module will draw from and build on your own professional experience.

There are exit points within this award to allow you to complete with a post graduate certificate, diploma or an MSc.

This course is designed to develop nurses to work at an advanced level of complex clinical practice. This course provides the skills to:

• Develop a robust theoretical and practical knowledge base
• Explore the professional and clinical implications of working as an autonomous practitioner
• Gain in-depth knowledge and skills required to practice at an advanced level in a modern health service
• Examine and develop the necessary leadership skills
• Devise and develop a relevant evidence based project

Course Content

The course will provide two clear "pathways" for students to pursue. The first is directly linked to the teaching, development and assessment of the nationally recognised benchmarks for advanced clinical practice (RCN 2010). This will be the preferred route for practitioners working in acute care, out of hours services, hospital at night services and in medical and surgical support posts. The second pathway refers to those students who will be working at an advanced level but do not require the RCN accreditation. These students have greater flexibility in their elective choices. Both pathways study clinical leadership; research and evidence to inform practice; and work based learning. The RCN route includes pathophysiology for advanced practice; clinical examination and history taking; and Non Medical Prescribing.

MSc Advanced Clinical Practice - progression routes Download pdf (38kb)

This course involves a blended approach to learning .The course is driven by a philosophy that is student centred; progressive; process oriented and practice focussed. The student will learn within a virtual environment (CampusMoodle) and apply the theoretical learning to their practice through a work based learning approach. Students will therefore have an opportunity to apply learning to their specific area of practice within contemporary healthcare service. 

If you undertake the RCN accredited route there will be some compulsory attendance at the University for the Clinical Examination Module and Non Medical Prescribing Module

The entry requirement for this course will normally be an honours degree or its equivalent. In addition because of the work based nature of the course all students must be working in clinical practice.

This course is ideal for registered nurses with a degree and normally 2 or more years of practical experience. You may be working in a range of clinical specialities and have a range of specific learning needs so you can mould the course to best suit your own learning needs.

If you are undertaking the RCN accredited route you will require supervised by a Designated Medical Practitioner during the Non Medical Prescribing Module and an appropriately trained supervisor for the Work Based Learning Module, who may either be a medic or a trained Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

All course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change. Published fees apply to the course's mode of delivery.

You should apply directly to the University for all Postgraduate courses. You can Apply Online at www.rgu.ac.uk/applyonline.

If you would like to find out more about this course please contact the course leader, who will be happy to discuss your individual requirements:

Heather Bain
Tel: 01224 262634
Email: heather.bain@rgu.ac.uk

This course develops greater understanding and the skills of the advanced practitioner in relation to leadership and clinical practice.  As healthcare is an ever changing environment, it will provide aspiring healthcare professionals with a comprehensive programme of preparation

that develops an advanced level of practice. It recognises the accepted international benchmark for advanced practice and develops highly experienced and educated members of the care team who are able to

diagnose and treat healthcare needs or make a referral to an appropriate specialist.. This course allows students to continue and develop their knowledge and skills within their own areas of practice, enabling them to accelerate their career progression.

s course develops greater understanding and the skills of a practitioner in relation to leadership and change management. As healthcare is an ever changing environment, employers will benefit from those who can assist with the workforce and development planning. This course allows students to continue and develop their knowledge and skills within their own areas of practice, enabling them to accelerate their career progression.

Heather Bain is the Course Leader for the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice, MSc Advanced District Nursing, M Nursing (Nurse Led Practice), and the Master's level CPD portfolio.

Heather Bain's staff profile