MSc Advanced Practice

Start date: September and January

Course length: part time: two-five years

Campus: Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus

Faculty: Education, Health and Science

School: School of Health and Social Care

This course is available to international students

If you're a professional working within health care practice, in particular nursing or professions linked to medicine and service improvement, this course has been developed for you. We've developed this course to comply with Department of Health Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF).

It's been designed in partnership with NHS colleagues from within the East Midlands and appropriate national bodies in osteoporosis, falls, ultrasound and service development to ensure you'll receive learning that has direct benefit to service delivery, the enhancement of patient care and the future development of the NHS. The education and training of a high quality NHS workforce and the future development of your skills is essential to the success of the modern health service and this course will assure your learning and will enhance your expertise within the future NHS.

The programme consists of six interim awards:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Osteoporosis and Falls Management
• Postgraduate Certificate in Bone Densitometry Reporting
• Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership for Healthcare Improvement
• Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Advanced Practice
• Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Medical Ultrasound

The course is flexible and can be tailored to suit your personal development and the service needs of your manager or employer. As a result you can be sure that the learning will add value to your role and to your further professional career aspirations. If you currently work within the East Midlands area you'll be able to access this course through the Learning Beyond Registration (LBR) pathway. If you work outside the East Midlands you're also encouraged to apply.

Watch Angie Snow, Programme Leader for MSc Advanced Practice, talk through the course

There is a lot of flexibility regarding the modules you can choose – you don’t have to select all your modules from a certain area in most cases. However for some of the specialist modules, you may need to be working in a specific area or to have taken other modules first.

As we need a minimum number of students before we can offer some modules, not all of them will run every year, so please check before you apply.

Advanced Nursing Practice

Some examples of the modules that will be available are:

• Clinical Decision Making (40 credits)
• Introduction to Masters Level Study (20 credits)
• Non Medical Prescribing (40 credits)
• Research Methodology – Application to Advanced Practice (20 credits)
• Vulnerability and Mental Health (20 credits)
• Work Based Learning – Negotiated Module (20 credits)

Leadership and Management

Some examples of the modules that will be available are:

• Liberating Talents (20 credits)
• Management of Change (20 credits)
• Principles of Service Improvement in the Workplace (20 credits)
• Work Based Project (40 credits)

To complete your MSc you must study this module:

Independent Scholarship (60 credits)

During this triple module you’ll have the opportunity to investigate in detail a chosen area of practice relevant to your profession. This module is delivered by distance learning (paper based).

Please contact us for details of fees.

How you'll learn

There are a large number of modules to choose from, so you can tailor the course to suit your learning needs and your professional career aspirations. You can study specific awards or take stand alone modules as part of your professional development. Many of the modules are available through distance learning, so you can study at a time and place to suit you.

How you're assessed

Students will be assessed in a variety of ways which reflects the programme teams approach to assessment. Some modules will be assessed through traditional written coursework, Viva/OSCE, work based assessments, portfolio development, written and computerised exams and poster presentations (individual and group).

The courses have been developed to reflect the philosophies of Advanced Practice within the ethos of current healthcare provision in the UK therefore your studies will be fit for purpose and informed to current standards.

You may wish to progress to a doctorate level of study, gain entry on to postgraduate medical programmes or become partners in GP practices. Many students go on to develop, specialise in, and lead, the implementation of healthcare services including healthcare improvement, osteoporosis and falls services including fracture liaison or bone densitometry services and the variety of ultrasound provision. However the course is diverse and innovative, so you could use the skills and knowledge you've gained to work within the public and private sectors. The flexibility of the course ensures that your own personal interests are met as well as those of your employer (if appropriate).

Current student Theresa Goldsmith says: "Studying the MSc Advanced Practice has contributed to my ongoing development within my role."

• Read more of her story

"Online way of learning is fantastic. I can work and learn something new and advance my practice when it's convenient."

Angela Webster, current student

"This course allows for a flexible approach to masters level study, which sits well with juggling a full time career ad family."

Jackie Eades, current student