Advanced Clinical Practice, MSc, PgCert or PgDip at University of Aberdeen

The provision of healthcare today requires a team that works collaboratively and utilises the strengths of the team to provide optimal patient centred care depending on their specific needs at the time. All clinical roles within healthcare are evolving and expanding. Taking on an Advanced Clinical Practice role will require you as the healthcare professional to develop new skills and knowledge harmonious with the four pillars of advanced practice (clinical practice, facilitating learning, leadership and evidence and research development), and to develop high-level critical reasoning, judgement and decision making skills.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Practice will enable you to learn and develop the core foundation knowledge of advanced and advancing practice. From September 2019, students enrolling on the Postgraduate Diploma will complete two courses for the non-medical prescribing qualification (pending Regulator validation) along with an introduction to research and one optional course. In year 3 (2020) students will be able to complete the full MSc programme by choosing three optional courses and a 15-credit project course or a 60-credit dissertation.

We have designed a programme that delivers the range of expertise and skills that are now expected of an advanced practitioner whether they are working in the acute sector or health and social care integration services. The programme offers choice and there are options for a research or more applied approach if that was desired. This programme is delivered in partnership with our NHS colleagues by senior clinicians and clinical academics from medicine and staff from PA, nursing and the allied health professions.

How You'll Study

Hands on demonstration and clinical skills teaching will take place on the Foresterhill Health Campus site and in your own area of practice. With the blended learning approach, lectures and teaching resources will be available online via MyAberdeen.

Learning Methods

• CLINICAL LEARNING
• E-LEARNING
• PEER LEARNING
• SEMINARS
• TUTORIALS
• WORKSHOPS

Why Study Advanced Clinical Practice?

• The aim of this course is to provide practitioners with the required knowledge, skills and confidence to manage an episode of care for patients that may have very complex care needs.
• The programme has been and will continue to be developed using the framework provided by the 4 pillars of Advanced Practice:- clinical practice, leadership, facilitating and learning and evidence, research and development.
• This programme will enable the student to become a highly autonomous practitioner with ability to make clinical decisions and develop care plans that optimise patient care. 
• The non-medical prescribing courses are accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council giving you the V300 award, required for advanced practice.
• The programme is undertaken through part-time study to accommodate the parallel duties of clinical and academic staff and student. 
• Face to face teaching including simulation will be delivered at the Foresterhill Health Campus, which is one of the largest health campuses in Europe. 
• The University of Aberdeen is a Top 30 UK University, Complete University Guide 2020

Careers

The PgCert Advanced Clinical Practice is the first step towards the MSc, the completion of which will enable you to attain an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) role within clinical practice. The knowledge and skills gained from this programme will enable you as an ACP to go on to consolidate your learning and in turn continue to evolve and develop the role of the ACP. Becoming an established ACP is to become an integral and essential member of the multi-disciplinary team that provides a professional consistency within the team. This will greatly enhance the patient experience and aim to give them timely optimal care. Career progression within healthcare for ACP roles include becoming Senior ACP and then Advanced Practice Consultants.