MSc Advanced Paramedic Practice

Key information

Course Leader: Sarah Jardine

Level: 7

Start date: September 2023

Mode of delivery: blended learning

School: Health & Social Work

Entry Requirements

The normal entry requirements for the programme are:

That applicants are registered with the HCPC as a paramedic
A degree (e.g. BSc (Hons)) usually at lower second class or above – those who do not have a degree, or equivalent, are expected to evidence successful completion of at least 30 credits of Level 7 study.
Meet any pre-requisites identified in the individual DMDs of each module studied.

International students must provide evidence of a first degree (or equivalent) in Pre-hospital Emergency Care; evidence of registration with the Professional Body of their home country; evidence of continuing professional development and IELTS of 7.0 (including 7.0 in writing).

International students are not permitted to undertake any module which requires clinical placements unless they are registered with the HCPC. In addition, it should be recognised that International students undertaking elements, or all parts of the programme will not incur eligibility to register with the HCPC as a paramedic.

International students will be required to submit additional information in support of their application. Candidates with appropriate qualifications will be invited for a telephone interview.

This MSc in Advanced Paramedic Practice is a fantastic opportunity to develop as an advanced paramedic in a variety of clinical settings. For students taking specific modules, the programme incorporates two pathways for the aspiring advanced paramedic:

Primary and Urgent Care

Emergency and Critical Care

Each pathway includes core and optional modules, providing the opportunity to develop your knowledge and clinical skills and prepare you for clinical practice as an Advanced Paramedic. There is no obligation to select a pathway and the award titles available are as follows:

MSc Advanced Paramedic Practice

MSc Advanced Paramedic Practice (Primary and Urgent Care)

MSc Advanced Paramedic Practice (Emergency and Critical Care)

Interim awards of PGCert and PGDip are also available within each pathway.

Why should I choose this course?

Learn from a multi-professional faculty of clinical experts.
Study flexibly on this part-time programme, whilst maintaining clinical practice.
Access to a range of clinical settings for practice placement experience, to develop your knowledge and practical skills.
Undertake research, supported by our Professor of Paramedic Science, to drive change and improvement in practice.

Indicative Course Structure for Primary and Urgent care Pathway:

Year 1

Advanced Patient Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (15 credits)
15 credit optional module
Minor Illness and Minor Injury for Advanced Practice (30 credits)

Year 2

Research Methods (15 credits)
45 credits from optional modules
This could, for some, include AHP Independent Prescribing (30 credits)*

Year 3

Preparation for Research Project (15 credits)
15 credit optional module
Research Project (30 credits)

Indicative Course Structure - Emergency and Critical Care Pathway:

Year 1

Advanced Patient Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (15 credits)
Advanced Airway Management and Ventilation (15 credits)
Management of the Critically Ill or Injured Patient (30 credits)

Year 2

Research Methods (15 credits)
45 credits from optional modules

Year 3

Preparation for Research Project (15 credits)
15 credit optional module
Research Project (30 credits)

Optional modules which can be taken in either pathway:

Paramedic Specific Optional Modules are:

Advanced Airway Management and Ventilation (15)
Cardiology for Urgent and Emergency Care (15)
Toxicology for Urgent and Emergency Care (15)
Paediatric Urgenct and Emergency Care (15)

Allied Health Optional Modules are:

AHP Independent Prescribing (30)
Developing Professional Practice: Independent Study (15 or 30)
Evidencing Professional Practice (15 or 30)
Musculoskeletal Trauma: Image Recognition for Healthcare Professionals (15)
Musculoskeletal Pathologies: Image Recognition for Healthcare Professionals (15)
Leadership Education and Developing Others (15)
Leading Service Change (15)
Coaching Skills for Leading (15)

Modules

Leadership Education and Developing Others
The aim of this module is to enable students to continue to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills of leadership, education and professional development. The module enables students to critically review leadership within the context of the advanced practice role, to understand the learning and teaching approaches that support clinical development and to evaluate strategies to support and develop themselves and others.

The module consist of:
- Leadership theories and application to practice and understanding self as a leader.
- Conceptual frameworks relating to leading and following, power and control, compliance and subversion.
- Strategies for developing a learning culture within organisations.
- Examination and application of skills to support leadership at an advance practice level.
- Evaluation of the role of the advanced clinical practitioner as a leader.
Musculoskeletal Trauma: Image Recognition for Healthcare Professionals
This course is currently being updated for the 2024/25 intake.

Applications will open soon.

This module is designed for healthcare professionals in providing an overview of the pathophysiological processes that affect the musculoskeletal system. It will develop knowledge in areas of patient presentation in relation to the traumatic processes occurring, with emphasis on the radiographic image appearances of normal and traumatic processes within the musculoskeletal system. Knowledge of general radiographic technique utilised to obtain diagnostic images will be developed. It will also review imaging modalities and radiographic technique in relation to relevant legislation.

Students will be encouraged to develop their image recognition skills of musculoskeletal radiographs within clinical practice. Delivery of this module will be by university staff and may include relevant external lecturers. It will incorporate blended learning which aims to combine e-learning opportunities and traditional campus-based learning to enhance the student learning experience.

Course Dates

Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28^th September 2023 (Both these days will be delivered on campus at UH College Lane campus)
Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd November 2023 (Online)
Thursday 14th December 2023(Online)
Assessment Wednesday 10th January 2024 in course test On campus
Musculoskeletal Pathologies: Image Recognition for Healthcare Professionals

This is now full. Please check for new dates in June 2024

This module is designed for healthcare professionals in providing an overview of the pathophysiological processes that affect the musculoskeletal system. It will develop knowledge in areas of patient presentation in relation to the pathological processes occurring. Knowledge of imaging modalities utilised within patient management of pathological processes will be developed. It will also review imaging modalities and radiographic technique in relation to relevant legislation.

There will be an emphasis on the radiographic appearances of normal, normal variants and pathological disease processes within the musculoskeletal system.

Students will be encouraged to develop their image recognition skills of musculoskeletal radiographs within clinical practice. Delivery of this module will be by university staff and and may include relevant external lecturers. It will incorporate blended learning which aims to combine e-learning opportunities and traditional campus-based learning to enhance the student learning experience

Advanced Decision Making
This module is aimed at all registered and practicing nurses or midwives, and allied health and social care professionals.

This module evaluates and applies established theories and models relevant to decision making in the context of health and social care. These are drawn from a wide variety of disciplines including clinical reasoning, philosophy and ethics, legal frameworks, Service User involvement, Inter-professional and Values Based Decision Making. Throughout, students will develop their critical thinking skills, with an emphasis on applying their learning to decision making in the students’ own health and social care context.
Coaching Skills for Leading
The module will comprise of theoretical lectures, workshops, tutorials and seminar sessions to facilitate the development of the fundamental knowledge, understanding and skills underpinning the roles and responsibilities of coaching and its application within leadership.

A key learning activity for this module is practical trio work in which students practise their coaching skills and through peer group learning develop a functional, supportive community of coaching practice.

This activity requires the whole student group to participate in a collaborative, facilitative and supportive manner at each study day

Leading Service Change

In these challenging times Health and Care services need to be developed to meet growing demands but with decreasing resources. This course explores models, theories and the evidence base to enable you to identify how to lead change within your service. 

Content 

The course covers three main themes: the external context and health policy influencing change; service development and redesign; working with change and leadership. The course explores questions such as: How do you involve service users and other stakeholders in service development? How to identify what to change? How do you prepare for the future? How can you facilitate change through people and process, creating a sense of urgency and commitment? What is leadership and how do you lead? What types of leaders are required in challenging times? How can leadership styles influence team motivation and outcomes?

Attendance dates and times:

15/01/24: 10:00 – 16:00 in person at UH

29/01/24: 09:30 – 12:00 online

12/02/24: 09:30 – 12:00 online

26/02/24: 10:00 – 16:00 in person at UH

11/03/24: 09:30 – 12:00 online

25/03/24: 09:30 – 12:00 online

Developing Professional Practice: Independent Study 1

This module is designed for AHP health professionals who want to gain an in depth understanding of a particular subject area in which they have a specific interest and that is not provided through taught modules. There are no specific days when you are required to attend the University. Communication is with your supervisor and arranged to suit your needs. 

 

You must submit the topic of choice form in the downloads section on this page with your application.

 

The modules can be studied with any module within the framework and particularly complement the following courses to provide a bespoke area of study: 

  

1. Evidencing Professional Practice 1 or 2 

2. Developing Professional Practice: Work based skills 1 and 3 

If you are not sure which is the most suitable option, we will be happy to advise you. The flow chart below will help in informing your selection. 

 

Which independent study module do I need?  A decision-making algorithm 

  

The algorithm below may help in determining which of the independent study modules is the most appropriate for you.  You can select all of these modules to study in succession or just select one that is of particular interest.  There is no predetermined set order, however if you intend to study all then the DPPIS is often a useful starting point.
Developing Professional Practice: Independent Study 2

This module is designed for AHP health professionals who want to gain an in depth understanding of a particular subject area in which they have a specific interest and that is not provided through taught modules. There are no specific days when you are required to attend the University. Communication is with your supervisor and arranged to suit your needs. 

 

You must submit the topic of choice form in the downloads section on this page with your application.

 

The modules can be studied with any module within the framework and particularly complement the following courses to provide a bespoke area of study: 

  

1. Evidencing Professional Practice 1 or 2 

2. Developing Professional Practice: Work based skills 1 and 3 

If you are not sure which is the most suitable option, we will be happy to advise you. The flow chart below will help in informing your selection. 

 

Which independent study module do I need?  A decision-making algorithm 

  

The algorithm below may help in determining which of the independent study modules is the most appropriate for you.  You can select all of these modules to study in succession or just select one that is of particular interest.  There is no predetermined set order, however if you intend to study all then the DPPIS is often a useful starting point. 
Preparation for Research Project

This module builds on Research Methods fostering a “research-tutored” approach where students critically appraise the evidence in relation to their own discipline in order to identify a feasible research question and an appropriate means to answer it.

The term “research” is used in its broadest sense to denote any form of inquiry focussed on an area of the student’s professional practice. This may include quantitative research, qualitative research, mixed methods, systematic reviews, literature reviews, retrospective data analysis, audit and evaluation of a healthcare innovation. The student will choose the focus of their project, develop the necessary academic skills and understand, critique and apply relevant theoretical approaches to formulate a research question and proposal in keeping with their chosen method of inquiry.

Teaching and learning will comprise of compulsory components to equip students with key skills, including identification, critique, synthesis and organisation of a relevant body of evidence, critical use of theoretical approaches, and Masters’ level academic writing, to enable them to prepare, plan and carry out their Research Project module.

Methods of inquiry and profession specific workshops will provide students with guidance relevant to their topic, and their chosen data collection method and data analysis, including processes of governance and ethical review where relevant. Students will also learn about the role of the research supervisor.
Research Project

This course is for paramedics, physiotherapists, radiographers, radiotherapists, nurses and midwives who have successfully completed master’s level research methods and preparation for research project modules and who wish to undertake a piece of original research in order to complete their Master’s award.  

 

 Students will have been provided with support to refine their research question and developed their methodology in the Preparation for Research Project module. They will be advised not to deviate significantly from the work developed in this prior module. Students must produce an individual written piece of work.

Support for ethical approval will be provided if necessary. You will receive support with statistical analysis including access and support to SPSS if required. You will also receive assistance with publication and presentation of completed work where appropriate. 

Course enquires are to your programme lead:

Sarah Jardine for Paramedic Sciences: mscadvpara@herts.ac.uk

Mindy Cairns/Andrea Moulson for Physiotherapy: mscadvphysio@herts.ac.uk

Dr. Naomi Brown for Medical imaging: n.2.brown@herts.ac.uk

Debbie Sharp for Midwifery: d.sharp@herts.ac.uk

Aileen Wilson for Nursing: a.wilson27@herts.ac.uk

Carole Galloway for Social Work : c.galloway4@herts.ac.uk
Research Methods

This module is designed for any health professional who wishes to develop an understanding of research paradigms, and research methodologies and methods commonly encountered within healthcare. You should be a qualified health care professional currently working in an appropriate area of practice.  

 

The aim of the course is to enable you to understand different research methodologies and the application of a range of research techniques. It also aims to develop your knowledge and skills required to plan, design, conduct and present research. 

 

You will participate in examination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and critical analysis and evaluation of published literature, in order to develop your knowledge and diversify skills.  

 

Key strands of research methods that will be explored in depth include:

 • The aims, processes and terminologies associated with research approaches. 

 • Research paradigms and their relevance. 

 • Information retrieval, literature searches and challenges.  

• Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research methodologies and methods. 

 • The role of ethics and governance approval committees. 

 • Systematic critiquing of research publications and their relevance for clinical practice. 
Developing Professional Practice: Work-based Skills 1

This module is for all healthcare professionals interested in undertaking independent study that develops evaluative and practical skills within a defined area of their professional practice. A clinical placement within the area appropriate to your practice and with agreement from your line manager (where relevant) is required to undertake the module. 

 

Content 

 

This is a module that is tailored to your own area of interest that will enable you to explore, reflect upon and develop your learning and skills associated with an aspect of your professional practice. Guidance is provided throughout the module by an academic supervisor who will enable you to shape the module to your individual needs. 

 

This module can be studied with any module within the framework and particularly complement the following courses to provide a bespoke area of study: 

 

1. Developing Professional Practice: Independent Study 1 or 2 

2. Evidencing Professional Practice 1 or 2 

If you are not sure which is the most suitable option, we will be happy to advise you. The flow chart below will help in informing your selection. 

Which independent study module do I need?  A decision-making algorithm 

  

The algorithm below may help in determining which of the independent study modules is the most appropriate for you.  You can select all of these modules to study in succession or just select one that is of particular interest.  There is no predetermined set order, however if you intend to study all then the DPPIS is often a useful starting point.
Developing Professional Practice: Work-based Skills 3

This module is for all healthcare professionals interested in undertaking independent study that develops evaluative and practical skills within a defined area of their professional practice. A clinical placement within the area appropriate to your practice and with agreement from your line manager (where relevant) is required to undertake the module. 

 

Content 

 

This is a module that is tailored to your own area of interest that will enable you to explore, reflect upon and develop your learning and skills associated with an aspect of your professional practice. Guidance is provided throughout the module by an academic supervisor who will enable you to shape the module to your individual needs. 

 

This module can be studied with any module within the framework and particularly complement the following courses to provide a bespoke area of study: 

  

1. Developing Professional Practice: Independent Study 1 or 2 

2. Evidencing Professional Practice 1 or 2 

If you are not sure which is the most suitable option, we will be happy to advise you. The flow chart below will help in informing your selection. 

Which independent study module do I need?  A decision-making algorithm 

  

The algorithm below may help in determining which of the independent study modules is the most appropriate for you.  You can select all of these modules to study in succession or just select one that is of particular interest.  There is no predetermined set order, however if you intend to study all then the DPPIS is often a useful starting point.

Prerequisites

The normal entry requirements for the programme are:

That applicants are registered with the HCPC as a paramedic
A degree (e.g. BSc (Hons)) usually at lower second class or above – those who do not have a degree, or equivalent, are expected to evidence successful completion of at least 30 credits of Level 7 study.
Meet any pre-requisites identified in the individual DMDs of each module studied.

International students will be required to submit additional information in support of their application. Candidates with appropriate qualifications will be invited for a telephone interview.

Learning outcomes

Throughout the programme, students will be supported to access a range of clinical placements relevant to their pathway. This may include observational placements within a critical care team or structured placement in a primary care setting.

Graduates of this programme will typically be eligible to apply for employment as an Advanced Paramedic in primary care, urgent care or emergency care settings. The course content is mapped against the HEE framework for Advanced Clinical Practice and meets a number of the requirements to practice at an advanced level.

You will be taught be a multi-professional faculty, and subject matter experts; it is a flexible, part-time programme with access to a range of clinical placements, you will be clinically focussed and we will prepare you for advanced paramedic practice.

For further information please contact the Course Leader.

Level

Credits

180

Course Leader

Sarah Jardine

Start date

September 2023

Mode of delivery

blended learning

Faculty

Health & Social Work

Apply

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

Apply online

The airway and its assessment	Introduction to anaesthesia	The failed airway and emergency airway strategies
Ventilators and ventilatory strategies	Medication facilitated ventilation	Medication facilitated airway management
Prehospital emergency anaesthesia	Chest injury management	Clinical human factors and non-technical skills
Tracheostomy and laryngectomy emergencies	Multi-disciplinary team working	High fidelity simulated placement

Anatomy, physiology and development of the child	Evidence based practice	Medical emergencies
Pathophysiology of common paediatric conditions	Clinical decision making	Trauma emergencies
Effective assessment of the child	Advanced life support	Palliative care and long-term conditions
Minor illness and minor injury	Recognising the seriously ill child	Human factors in urgent and emergency care

Therapeutic communication and the clinical interview	Acquiring a comprehensive health history	Mental health assessment
Systems based approach to physical assessment	Advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic skills	Introduction to ultrasound
Documentation and medico-legal aspects of practice	Cognitive bias and sources of error	Developing a diagnosis and differential diagnoses
Diagnostic accuracy	Clinical reasoning	Managing risk

Time critical patient assessment	Evaluation of complex situations	Technical and non-technical skills
Team leadership and managing complex patient encounters	Clinical management of critical illness	Clinical management of critical injury
The agitated/aggressive patient	Paediatric, elderly, pregnant patients	Major burns
Critical care drugs	Catastrophic haemorrhage including blood products	Critical care in transit

Toxicokinetics / Toxicodynamics	Poisoning effects on energy production	ANS in poisoning
Toxic alcohols	Opiates, antidepressants, paracetamol	Paediatric and elderly poisoning
Novel psychoactive agents and recreational drugs	Management and antidotes	Salicylates, neuroleptics and benzodiazepines
Cardiac drugs	Suicide and self-harm	Medicines and the law

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MSc Advanced Paramedic Practice

Key information

Entry Requirements

Modules

Prerequisites

Learning outcomes

Level

Credits

Course Leader

Start date

Mode of delivery

Faculty

Apply

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK