Focused Advanced Clinical Assessment and Examination

Current professional registration with NMC, HCPC or GPhC is required for entry to this module. Applicants are required to have a degree qualification.

Applicants must complete two forms to apply for this module. These are:

1. The online application form, which you can access by the "Apply now" link at the top of this page.
2. The Practice Assessor Agreement ACE supervisor form (.docx), which must be completed as part of your application and approved by the module co-ordinator prior to your admission to this module. It is important you submit this at least 4 weeks prior to the module starting.

Please ensure all sections of the application pack are completed and returned. You must complete both forms to apply for this module. 

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
• IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.

1. Demonstrate competence when undertaking clinical history and assessment of individual patients, including clinical examination of three specified physiological systems.

2. Synthesise clinical data obtained from the clinical history and assessment of individual patients and apply a systematic approach to documentation skills.

3. Evaluate common pathologies within the care context utilising clinical information.

4. Critically examine the challenges in managing and/or appropriately referring and prioritising individual patients with a range of conditions.

The aim of this module is to develop autonomous practitioners who can competently undertake advanced clinical assessments combining the skills of comprehensive clinical history taking with clinical assessment and physical examination.

Clinical examination and assessment skills will be developed looking at the following systems: cardiovascular, respiratory, abdominal. As well as developing history taking and communication skills.

Practical sessions will include support in developing skills to examine the systems listed above.

The student must have one designated healthcare practitioner, the Practice Assessor, who is responsible for facilitating appropriate learning opportunities and assessing the student’s clinical history taking and clinical examination skills. Other qualified healthcare practitioners may contribute to providing appropriate learning experiences as Practice Supervisors, but the responsibility for assessing clinical practice rests with the Practice Assessor.

The Practice Assessor must be a suitably qualified registered healthcare practitioner who:

• Is currently registered with NMC, GMC, HCPC or GPC.
• Has had at least 3 years post-registration experience with overall clinical responsibility for a group of patients/clients in their relevant field of practice.
• If they are registered with GMC, they must be based within a GP practice, or working as a specialist registrar, non-consultant career grade, or consultant.
• For NMC, HCPC and GPC registrants the expectation is that the practice assessor is a suitably qualified and experienced advanced practitioner who is an expert in clinical history taking and clinical examination.
• Has support of the employing organisation or GP practice to act as the Practice Assessor for the Advanced Clinical Assessment module and has experience in training and teaching and/or supervising in practice.

Students will be assessed by:

• Portfolio worth 50%
• Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) worth 50%

This module includes 30 hours of on-campus workshops, 75 hours of practice, 95 hours of self-directed study. 

Marianne Fairley-Murdoch

marianne.murdoch@stir.ac.uk