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Advanced Patient Assessment and Clinical Reasoning

Key information

Course Leader: Sarah Jardine

Level: 7

Credits: 15

Mode of delivery: Blended

Learner Hours: Scheduled Hours - 36, Independent Hours - 114

School: Health & Social Work

Available places: 75

Dates

  • 17/09/2024
  • 21/01/2025

Fees and Funding

£865.00

The price quoted above is per 15 credits and relates to students assessed as UK/home self-funded for fee purposes. Prices may differ for students that are assessed as EU/Overseas. Fees status will normally stay with the student for the remainder of their course. Here you can find further details along with, costs and when your fees need to be paid. You may be able to obtain a Post Graduate student loan, for which you must sign up for the whole MSc programme and not just individual modules or a Post Graduate Diploma, further details can be found at Gov.uk Master’s Loan

Entry Requirements

Degree in a relevant discipline; or evidence of appropriate knowledge and experience of level 6 studies. Or extensive demonstrable experience in a clinical role and willingness to undertake level 7 study.  

 

Professional registration (e.g. HCPC, NMC, GMC) 

 

 

Course Overview

This module aims to enable students to take a comprehensive health history from a patient/carer and to develop skills in assessing a patient's physical and mental health. Students will develop advanced physical examination skills and be able to adapt these to the age of the patient, the setting, and any individual needs. Students will then develop the art and science of clinical reasoning, decision making and care planning. 

 

The course will use a blend of online and face-to-face teaching, workshops and discussion forums to explore the theory underpinning advanced patient assessment and clinical reasoning. Practical activity will explore advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic skills 

 

Course content includes: 

 

 

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 

 

Learning outcomes

Successful students will typically: 

 

  • Develop an overview of changes across the lifespan in the approach to the examination and expected findings. 

 

  • Critically evaluate the role of diagnostic tests and procedures in formulation of accurate diagnoses, taking into account human factors and potential sources of error. 

 

  • Critically synthesise and evaluate current evidence in relation to patient assessment and investigations demonstrating comprehensive clinical examination and assessment skills. 

 

  • Be skilled in taking an accurate, comprehensive and focused history, including mental health and mental status assessment. 

 

  • Independently evaluate knowledge and understanding relevant to patient assessment demonstrating. 

  

What our students say:

 

‘This is really useful’ 

‘...it’s been excellent and I’m going to apply to do more modules. 

I’ve been really impressed with the style of teaching and the collegiate approach to it, it’s been great’ 

  

 

Assessment

Written submission, worth 60% of the module mark.  

Practical OSCE stations including written, verbal and practical elements, worth 40% of the module mark.