Advanced Physical Assessment and Disease Management Skills
University Certificate in Postgraduate Continuing Education

Course overview

This module aims to equip practitioners with the necessary knowledge and skills to facilitate the clinical assessment of patients in acute and community setting within the scope of advanced practice specified by their employer. In having both a theoretical and clinical component, the module aims to extend practice and equip the practitioner with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be operational in the physical assessment, diagnosis and patient management elements of advanced practice.

The focus of the module is placed on developing advanced competence in clinical assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and patient centret evidence-based therapeutics. A variety of teaching and learning activities will be used throughout the module with emphasis on the application of clinical knowledge to practice. Online physical assessment skills and diaognostic reasoning sessions will develop 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, e.g a Doctor, or someone with Masters level Advanced Clinical Practice qualification.

• HEENE-funded places are available for eligible applicants.
• Standard University fee applies once all funded places have been allocated.

Students will be supported through the use of the VLE (e-learning @tees). The summative assessment of the module consists of an observed episode of practice, comprising of 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 supervisor, and a viva type discussion will then follow where the student will be expected to justify their actions and articulate their thought processes regarding the patients presentation and subsequent management. This component will be pass/fail. Additionally you will undertake a 30 question online exam, comprising of a mix of multiple choice, single best answers and extended matching questions.

Course details

What you study

• Principles and techniques of history-taking and examination
• Principles of focussed history taking and examination in acute and chronic disease with common health care presentations
• Principles of complex assessment
• Principles of case review in acute and chronic disease
• Communication skills for physical assessment
• The process of diagnostic reasoning
• Systems approach to history-taking and physical examination
• Systems approach to anatomy, physiology and pathology
• Investigations and the diagnostic process

How you learn

Due to the pandemic, this module will temporarily be delivered online.

The module is delivered over 1 semester via six fortnightly sessions.

Course material will be available in advance of modular sessions on e-learning@tees. Delivery will be online, with support sessions conducted via microsoft teams/blackboard collaborate.
Practitioners build upon their previous physical assessment skills knowledge by applying and focussing this knowledge and skills to a range of common patient presentations seen in health care.

Work-based experience 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 the student developing knowledge and skills in the assessment and management of patient cases.

All learning materials will be available in advance of the weekly sessions via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) e-learning@tees.

How you are assessed

The practical assessment is an observed episode of practice, comprising of 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 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 patients presentation and subsequent management. This component will be pass/fail.
Additionally you will undertake a 30 question online exam, comprising of a mix of multiple choice, single best answers and extended matching questions.
Both components need to be completed successfully to attain a pass. Students are assessed on their 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.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Applicants must:

• have already undertaken physical assessment / clinical skills training and be skilled in the assessment of all body systems. E.g. have undertaken the Physical Assessment Skills module or similar training.
• be able to nominate an appropriately qualified and experienced advanced practitioner to act as a Clinical Supervisor for the duration of the module, e.g a Doctor, or someone with Masters level Advanced Clinical Pratice qualification. It is this person who will carry out your summative practice assessment.
• be currently employed in a specialist/advanced area of practice in a clinical role requiring a level of autonomy in diagnostics and case management, with appropriate access to advanced practitioners.

Employability

Career opportunities

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