Welcome to your Advanced Clinical Practice course

You will learn Via a number of ways both traditional and contemporary to provide you with a varied learning experience.

By using a blended learning approach, we create a practice-focused, student-centred, flexible programme that develops your ability to:

• Challenge advanced clinical practice
• Engage in independent evidence-based decision making
• Determine creative and innovative solutions to practice issues
• Develop analytical and intellectual skills at Masters level

You’ll be linked with a Co-ordinating Education Supervisor and Work Placed Associated Supervisor, who is an expert in your clinical speciality. You’ll also receive support for personal and professional development from a senior clinical lead of the same profession who acts as your mentor throughout the award.

Classroom learning will include:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Groupwork
• Role plays
• Debates
• Simulated activities and skills sessions
• Clinical sessions with service users in the clinical laboratories

At the end of each module, you will be assessed using a variety of assessments:

• Essays
• Reports
• Case studies
• Portfolios
• Presentations etc.
• Exams
• OSCEs

Students will undertake a number modules over a three year period, these modules will depend on what pathway they are taking. All pathways will enable the students to meet the HEE standards

Students will be required to attend university one day per week.

• You will be sent a power point presentation which is entitled Preparing for your ACP MSc studies this is produced by the university and the association of Advanced Practice Educators. We would encourage you to
• Read the section around the advanced practice frameworks and specific Country frameworks - England, Wales, Scotlandand Ireland AHP and NursingSpend time with advanced practitioners who have graduated from the programme
• Speak to current students enrolled on the MSc programme
• Ensure you have submitted all requested information from the admission team - failure to do so will result in delayed enrolment
• Ensure you have your mentors in place ready for the start of the MSc
• Start developing a network of professional support
• Start planning, you need to be super organised while studying for an MSc. Planning will help.

At University you will write assignments in many formats, but most require the same standard of academic writing. You need to grasp two main concepts - what it is and how to write it but, to get you started, there 5 key features:

• Objective - based on facts and research rather than feelings or opinions.
• Formal language - make your point clearly and accurately, and develop language appropriate to your subject.
• Passive voice - this means concentrating on the action which has taken place rather than who performed it. This involves not using personal pronouns (for example: I, we, me, our) unless you are writing a reflection.
• Structured - you need to plan your work so that it guides the reader step by step from the introduction, through your argument supported by evidence, to the conclusion.
• Includes citations and references - an essential part of academic writing is to provide evidence of research and acknowledge your sources.

For more information visit:

• https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/academic_writing
• You may also find the following sites useful to look at Staffordshire University https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/academic_writing
• Staffordshire University academic support https://www.staffs.ac.uk/student-life/student-support/academic-support

• Aveyard, H., Sahrp, P. & Woolimas, M. (2011) A beginner's guide to critical thinking and writing in health and social care. McGraw-Hill Education
• Cottrell, S. (2017) Critical thinking skills: effective analysis, argument and reflection. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Khan academy is excellent for physiology https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/human-biology
• BNF This does not require any explanation. https://www.bnf.org/products/bnfbnfcapp/
• This link provides the link to SPC data which many will need if undertaking a non-medical prescribing module as part of the MSc Link URLhttps://www.medicines.org.uk/emc#gref
• Clinical Knowledge Summaries This website contains all CKS NICE guidelines. This is a valuable resource for any ACP student. https://cks.nice.org.uk/
• ENT ENT SHO is a good website that covers ENT pathology https://entsho.com/apps
• Figure 1 This site provides medical cases https://www.figure1.com/
• BMJ Best Practice App. This is the link to the app for mobile phones and tablets. It is also web based. Log in required and you might be able to access with your NHS account. https://bestpractice.bmj.com/info/download-the-app/
• TOXBASE This link is for TOXBASE app for download. https://www.toxbase.org/TOXBASE-app-for-iOS-and-Android/
• EMUk This app link is for EMUk which provides scoring systems used in clinical practice. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/emuk/id1092857687
• Medical Lab Tests This app link is for medical lab tests https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.westsamoaconsult.labtests&hl=en_GB&gl=US
• DermatologyA good web resource around dermatology http://www.dermatology.nhs.scot/dermatology-pathways/
• UNIVADis Another useful app that covers an array of medical presentations  https://www.univadis.co.uk/page/news?gclid=CjwKCAjwo4mIBhBsEiwAKgzXOGgycoKBnMXeBi33tdWvOBDAr2pgtAQqlWFd2RXKio0ciIFbPlYmChoCoLwQAvD_BwE&ecd=ppc_google_univadis_acq_%7Bcampaign%7D_%7Badgroup%7D

Students will be required to be in date for their DBS

A lap-top computer is advised so you can take notes during taught sessions and write your assignments. Digital software, for example Microsoft 365 pro, is available for free download during your time on the course and is useful for all areas of the course, offering cloud storage for your assignments so you can access them from any device and Outlook for email communication.

You will also be able to use our Lap Top loan facility should you find yourself needing to borrow a laptop for the day.

Software link: https://staffsuniversity.sharepoint.com/sites/software/SitePages/Home.aspx

• Mental Wellbeing - https://www.staffs.ac.uk/study/disabled/mental_wellbeing/
• Student Support - https://www.staffs.ac.uk/students
• Financial Support - https://www.staffs.ac.uk/students/money-matters/student-support-fund
• Study Support from the Library - https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/c.php?g=654666&p=4599175 and http://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/libraryresources