About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: B70012
- Applications: University
- Level: Postgraduate
- Department: Nursing and Midwifery
- Campus: Glenside Campus
- Duration: 36-72 months
- Delivery: Part-time
- Study Abroad: No
- Programme leader: Paul Snelling
Introduction
This flexible part-time course is designed for health and social care practitioners wishing to enhance and develop their skills within a specific area of their practice. The aims of the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) in career development and progression are embedded within the structure of the course, enhancing specific competencies of the practitioner in the workplace. You will be encouraged and supported to increase your level of autonomy through critical reflection on and development of practice in line with current professional standards.
In today's healthcare the term 'specialist' is no longer confined to a specialist unit as all areas of health are specialisms in their own right. Evidence suggests that patients have better outcomes if cared for as a client group by practitioners with the skills and knowledge in the specialism. Examples of the range of specialist areas include a surgical assessment unit, a stroke rehabilitation ward or in a community hospital. Health care reform supports this notion ensuring that health care is designed around the patient while providing seamless care between primary and secondary care.
The MSc Specialist Practice aims to develop and enhance the skills of healthcare professionals working with patients with an acute illness or those experiencing an acute episode of an existing long term condition. The aims are supported by a philosophy which is embedded in supporting these specialist practitioners within a dynamic and accountable healthcare system undergoing radical reform:
- Critically examine the policy, legal, ethical contexts within which healthcare is delivered with a view to shaping delivery for the future.
- Understand the complex picture from diverse evidence which forms an understanding of contemporary specialist practice.
- Operate competently within the practitioner's setting where practitioners are either exposed to ongoing advances in technology and techniques or require such learning opportunities to enhance their practice.
- From a diverse evidence base, demonstrate creativity in the management of an acute episode of care.
- Enhance clinical skills in working with patients during their episode of care, working collaboratively with all health care professional across primary and secondary care.
- Extend the boundaries of healthcare through inter-professional leadership and workforce development.
- Critically analyse research and evidence and apply to individual specialist areas of practice.
- Provide a stimulating, supportive and sensitive learning environment which will enable you to maximise your learning and facilitate your development as a self-directed and reflective learner.
Structure
Content
The course is designed to optimise the demands of those clients requiring acute health service provision by encouraging you to personalise your course to meet your individual needs, over a negotiated time period. Such flexibility permits you to move beyond traditional boundaries whilst working within your own scope of practice. Through engaging in one compulsory module, Contemporary Specialist Practice, you will be encouraged to focus on developing your knowledge and understanding of current issues related to your own specialist practice.
All modules in this course require you to demonstrate the utilisation of research in your field of practice. As such, you will be required to synthesise information and evidence from a wide variety of sources and utilise the skills of critical reflection in order to fully grasp the complex nature and context of contemporary specialist practice. In particular, you will be required to complete a compulsory research methods module: Health and Social Care Research: Methods and Methodology to support you in this endeavour.
As the MSc Specialist Practice is designed to support practitioners in their practice role, the course offers considerable flexibility. This flexibility will allow you to choose from a range of optional modules to meet your own particular need. With this in mind the course offers the option of either a 40 or 60 credit dissertation. You have the choice to complete an empirical study of 40 credits to support an aspect of your practice with a further optional 20 credit module in an area of your role, requiring development. Alternatively students, in particular those who are established in their role or those who have a particular research interest, may wish to develop their own independent learning through a more substantial 60 credit dissertation which will enable them to explore in some depth an aspect relevant to their specialist role in practice.
Possible Pathways
| Nursing | Occupational Therapy |
Year 1
- Foundation of Acute, Critical and Emergency Care
- Principles of Emergency Care
- Leadership and Change | Year 1
- Occupational Science
- Assessment Design for Occupational Therapists
- Evidencing Work Based Learning
|
Year 2
- Contemporary Specialist Practice (Compulsory)
- Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
- Health and Social Care Research: Methods and Methodology | Year 2
- Contemporary Specialist Practice (Compulsory)
- Managing individuals with long term conditions
- Health and Social Care Research: Methods and Methodology
|
Year 3
Either
- Dissertation (60 credits)
Or
- Dissertation (40 credits)
plus
- Principles of Critical Care | Year 3
- Independent study
- Dissertation |
| Physiotherapy | Radiography |
Year 1
- Posture for Function
- Aging in Contemporary Society
- Clinical Examination Skills for Advanced Practice | Year 1
- Prescribing Practice
- Applied Pharmacology
- Health and Social Care Research: Methods and Methodology |
Year 2
- Contemporary Specialist Practice (Compulsory)
- Health and Social Care Research Methods and Methodology
- Independent study | Year 2
- Reporting Issues in Nuclear medicine
- Legal and ethical issues and dilemmas in Health and Social Care
- Contemporary Specialist Practice (Compulsory) |
Year 3
- Dissertation | Year 3
- Independent study
- Dissertation |
Teaching and learning
The emphasis of the learning and teaching will be student-centred, aimed at utilising the diversity of students' experience. A wide range of learning and teaching methods will be employed ranging from lectures to group work and discussion forums as well as independent study.
Strategies embedded within individual modules will foster collaborative working with opportunities for peer support, enabling you to focus on one of these specialist areas within an integrated framework. Some of the modules will use skills laboratories that provide you with additional opportunities to develop your skills and integrate theory with practice. Some modules will be delivered online but for the most part there will be a dynamic, blended learning approach in many modules.
Study time
You have ownership of mapping out your own development through your choice of modules, which is supported by a wide ranging multiprofessional team from within the University and across local and national practice.
Special Features
Study facilities
The Department is superbly equipped with an extensive range of teaching and learning resources across four campuses.
The library on the Glenside Campus is one of the best health and social care libraries in England with a huge selection of books, journals and audio-visual materials including access to specialist health and social care packages.
Information Technology provision is in the form of multimedia laboratories, smart boards and innovative projects such as 'multicasting' to deliver teaching material. At the main Frenchay Campus there is 24-hour access to computing facilities.
The Interprofessional Simulation Suite provides excellent opportunities for the demonstration and practice of professional competencies for health and social care practitioners.
Entry
Entry requirements
Applicants are normally required to have a first degree or its equivalent in a relevant subject.
For applicants that do not have a degree, alternative qualifications and experiences will be considered on an individual basis. This will require an interview and may include some pre-course work.
Fees
You will be liable for the payment of tuition fees, which are due in full at registration unless an employer is sponsoring you or you are paying by direct debit.
Full details of fees for this course can be found on our postgraduate fees pages.
For funding options, please see our funding and scholarships information.
Bursaries/Grants - UWE has a Postgraduate Bursaries scheme, for further information visit the Student Services website.
For information on financial assistance to support your learning, please visit direct.gov website or tel: 0800 100900.
How to apply
Whether you are seeking support from your organisation or are self-funded you can apply in the following ways:
PDF application
We would encourage you to apply using the following pdf application form. Please print this off and fill in the relevant sections and return to our Continuing Professional Development Unit (details below) to process.
Paper application
If you are an employee of a NHS trust funded by the NHS South West Strategic Health Authority (SHA) you should contact your Trust Coordinator/Manager for an application form.
Alternatively if you have a general query or would like to obtain an application form please contact:
Continuing Professional Development Unit
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011