Professional/Short course Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning for Practice
20 credit level 6 or level 7 module
Due to the places required from our partnership organisations outweighing the actual places available on this module, it will not be opened up to general applications until six weeks before the start date. Please contact your employer to see if you are eligible to apply, they will supply you with the relevant links to undertake this process.
You may be able to study these modules at Level 6 (BSc level) or Level 7 (Masters level) depending on your academic circumstances. Please contact the CPD Team or the Module Leader for advice if you are unsure which level would be best for you.
About
This 20 credit module, Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (PACR), is designed to support health care professionals in a clinical role to utilise a structured approach to history taking and physical assessment (of six bodily systems) with application of clinical reasoning.
The PACR module is available to study at either academic level 6 (UZWK9B-20-3) or level 7 (UZWK9C-20-M).
The module aims to enhance knowledge and understanding of history taking, examination techniques, and clinical reasoning skills. It also aims to facilitate students to differentiate between normal and abnormal variants of the physical assessment and their clinical significance in adults.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
At level 6 (undergraduate level)
- conduct a safe, relevant and comprehensive history taking process along with physical examination and assessment.
- analyse and communicate findings from history taking and physical examination, to inform suspected diagnoses.
- apply clinical reasoning utilising assessment findings alongside the evidence base to formulate a relevant clinical management plan.
At level 7 (Masters level)
- conduct a safe, relevant and comprehensive history taking process along with physical examination and assessment.
- critically analyse and communicate findings from history taking and physical examination, to inform suspected diagnoses.
- critically apply clinical reasoning utilising assessment findings alongside the evidence base to formulate a relevant clinical management plan.
Entry requirements
You must be a healthcare professional in clinical practice with current professional body registration.
Careers / Further study
This module can contribute towards the PGCert Health and Social Care, MSc Clinical Practice, MSc Advanced Practice, and the Professional Development Awards. If you have any queries, please contact the Professional Development team (pd@uwe.ac.uk).
How to apply
Please click on the Apply Now button to apply for your CPD module, which you can take as a stand-alone course or as part of an undergraduate or postgraduate (Masters level) programme.
Please note priority will be given to applications received through our funded educational contracts. Limited places will be available on this module for applications received outside of this funding. Please check with your employer as a funded contract place may be available to support your learning.
For further information
- Email: pd@uwe.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 81158
Structure
Content
The module syllabus will typically include the following:
- Systematic history taking
- Consultation skills
- Fundamentals of relevant anatomy and physiology
- Review of systems
- General survey
- Physical assessment of six bodily systems using a systematic approach:
- Head, ears, eyes, nose, throat (HEENT)
- Respiratory
- Cardiovascular
- Abdominal
- Neurological
- Musculoskeletal (knee and shoulder)
- Application of knowledge, evidence based practice, and clinical reasoning to inform suspected diagnoses and clinical management plans based on history and clinical examination findings.
- Succinct, systematic communication to effectively handover relevant findings.
Learning and Teaching
A variety of approaches will be used which may include seminars, practical sessions, experts from practice, case studies and self-directed study
Supervised physical assessment practical sessions will be incorporated.
Study time
This is a 20 credit module, therefore an expectation of 200 hours of study.
- Scheduled learning, teaching and assessment study hours: 48 hours.
- Independent study: 152 hours.
Assessment
Assessment for this module comprises a Structured Oral and Practical Examination (SOPE).
All module learning outcomes will be assessed in the assessment task (SOPE), via the below sections:
- History taking
- Clinical examination of one system covered on the module
- Provisional and differential diagnoses with management plan
- Handover
- Clinical knowledge using clinical questions
A formative peer assessment opportunity will be provided during the module.
Prices and dates
Supplementary fee information
Please visit our full fee information to see the price brackets for our modules.
Dates
Please click on the Apply Now button to view dates.
Features
Study facilities
The College of Health, Science and Society has an excellent reputation for the quality of its teaching and the facilities it provides.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Health Professions facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
If the course you are applying for is fully online or blended learning, please note that you are expected to provide your own headsets/microphones.