Advancing Practice

Clinical Practice

This route is suitable for registered nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals and is the preferred route if you are working towards an Advanced Practitioner role such as those working in acute care, primary care, out of hour’s or hospital at night services. This route has a work-based learning approach where students require to be working in clinical practice to undertake the work-based element of the programme supported by an appropriately qualified practice assessor.  This route is linked to the teaching, development and assessment of the nationally recognised benchmarks for advanced clinical practice. There is one elective module within this route.

Nursing

This route is for registered nurses who wish to build on their experience and develop a higher level of knowledge and skills to support their professional practice. You may be based within a specialism, involved in leading and managing care, or working in an international context.  It prepares you to lead and advance practice within the policy context of health and social care.  This route has a work-based learning approach which requires students to be working in clinical practice to undertake the work-based element of the programme. Students must identify an appropriately qualified practice assessor to support their development.  There’s flexibility with four elective modules and depending on the module choice there may be no compulsory attendance at the university.

District Nursing

Suited to experienced Nurses looking to gain contemporary knowledge to take forward the rapidly changing primary care agenda. A critical, innovative and reflective approach to addressing the healthcare needs of individuals, families, carers, groups and communities.

You need to be sponsored/supported by an NHS Board in order to meet the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for practice assessment.

Health Visiting

This route is for Nurses and Midwives who wish to build on their experience and transfer learning to develop a higher level of knowledge and skills required of a Health Visitor.

You need to be sponsored or supported by an NHS Board in order to meet the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for practice assessment.

School Nursing

This route is for you if you’re a Nurse or Midwife and want to build on your experience and transfer your learning to develop a higher level of knowledge and skills required of a School Nurse.

You need to be sponsored or supported by an NHS Board in order to meet the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for practice assessment.

Student stories

Hear from our students and graduates about their experiences studying this course:

Learning Methods

The programme is driven by a philosophy that is student-centred, progressive, and practice focused, and a blended approach to learning is adopted.

You will learn within a virtual environment, CampusMoodle, and apply theoretical learning to practice through a work based learning approach. You will therefore have an opportunity to apply learning to your specific area of practice within contemporary healthcare service.  

Depending on the route selected and the choice of optional modules, there will be some compulsory attendance at the University - for instance the clinical examination module and the prescribing element. 

Prospective students require to have a reliable broadband connection and be able to participate with online learning.  In addition, effective word-processing, email and web search skills is recommended.

How long is an Advancing Practice course?

• Clinical Practice - 36 months part-time
• District Nursing - 36 months part-time
• Health Visiting - 18 months full-time or 36 months part-time
• Nursing - 36 months part-time. This is the only route available to International students
• School Nursing - 18 months full-time or 36 months part-time

Activity Summary

Year 1

• Lectures, Seminars, Webinars, Tutorials - 20 contact hours per module that will be a mix of online seminars, lectures for prescribing. Apart from clinical examination which has 50 and non-medical prescribing has 60 contact hours
• Project Supervision - one-to-one dissertation module
• Placement / Work Based Learning - NMC routes: 50%, other routes: 500 hours

Independent Study

Self-study time is an important part of your success, including learning in practice settings. You will be considered adult learners who need strong organisation and self-direction skills.

Assessment

Typically students are assessed each year:

Year 1

• 1 written exam
• 1 written assignment, including essay
• 1 portfolio

Year 2

• 1 written exam
• 1 written assignment, including essay
• 1 portfolio
• 1 oral assessment
• 1 practical skills assessment

Year 3

• 1 dissertation
• 1 oral assessment

Feedback

We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Staff Delivering on this Course

The majority of the lecturers who teach on this course are qualified Healthcare Professionals, many with an NMC recordable teaching qualification, with a wide range of experience from varied healthcare settings. They also have educational and research experience.

Academic Support

The Inclusion Centre advises and supports students who disclose a sensory or mobility impairment, chronic medical condition, mental health issue, dyslexia and other specific learning differences. Applicants are encouraged to arrange a pre-entry visit to discuss any concerns and to view the facilities.

Online Learning & Support

All undergraduate and postgraduate students, whether you are learning on campus or by online learning, benefit from using our collaborative virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle. You will be provided with 24/7 online access to your learning material and resources, along with the ability to interact with your class members and tutors for discussion and support.

Study Skills Support

The Study Support Team provides training and support to all students in:

• Academic writing
• Study skills (note taking, exam techniques, time management, presentation)
• Maths and statistics
• English language
• Information technology support

Library Support

The Library offers support for your course, including the books, eBooks, and journals you will need. We also offer online reading lists for many modules, workshops and drop-ins on searching skills and referencing, and much more.

Placements

Clinical Practice and Nursing routes are undertaken within your own place of work with the support of an identified Practice Assessor. The criteria for this role are within the admission criteria. If you select to undertake the Prescribing for Healthcare Practitioners module you will require supervision by a Prescribing Practice Assessor.

Students are required to attend placements on the District Nursing, Health Visiting and School Nursing routes; these are equivalent to 23 weeks full time over the period of the PgDip. District Nurses do two ten week placements, Health Visitors and School Nurses do two ten week placements and an additional 3 weeks alternative practice.

Job Prospects

The programme recognises the accepted international benchmark for advanced practice and trains you to be highly experienced and educated member of care teams who can diagnose and treat healthcare needs or make a referral to an appropriate specialist.

This programme will prepare you for an advanced role in a range of healthcare settings. You will develop the decision-making, research and leadership skills required to deal with complex clinical situations. The programme is designed to allow you to continue and develop your knowledge and skills within your own areas of practice, enabling you to accelerate your career progression.

What is needed to study MSc Advancing Practice?

The minimum entry requirement for this programme will normally be an honours degree or its equivalent. In addition, because of the work based nature of the programme, all students must be working in clinical practice or sponsored by a Health Board and have access to a practice assessor/practice supervisor.

Clinical Practice: You must have a first registration within an appropriate professional body and be working in clinical practice and have the support of an appropriately qualified Practice Assessor.  Additional entry criteria is required to be met to undertake module NUM090 Prescribing for Healthcare Practitioners (NMC 2019).

Nursing: You must be a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, or the equivalent for international students.  This is the only route available to International students due to the non-attendance requirement and NMC registration requirements.  You are also required to be working in clinical practice and have the support of an appropriately qualified Practice Assessor.  Students electing to undertake module NUM090 Prescribing for Healthcare Practitioners have additional entry criteria to meet (NMC 2019).

District Nursing route: requires you to be a registered adult nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council on part 1 of the register, and have had the opportunity to consolidate your pre-registration nurse education. Acceptance is based on receiving an acceptable references from one source and satisfactory clearance from Disclosure Scotland's Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme.

Health Visiting and School Nursing routes: You must be a registered nurse or midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council on part 1 or 2 of the register. Acceptance is based on receiving an acceptable references from one source and satisfactory clearance from Disclosure Scotland's Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

• Nursing route – applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS of 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5, or equivalent.
• All other routes must meet the NMC English standard requirement

We accept a variety of in-country and secure English language tests, find out more:

Please note, some courses may require a higher standard of English than stated in this page. Contact admissions@rgu.ac.uk for further information.

Additional Costs

• £59 for Protecting Vulnerable Group (PVG) check