Advanced Health Assessment

Overview

This module focuses upon the practice of advanced health assessment and history taking, to form a diagnosis. Content enables students to undertake a comprehensive and focused advanced health examination and to facilitate the individual to relate the following core content to the role of the Advanced Practitioner.

Advanced clinical practice is delivered by experienced, registered healthcare practitioners. It is a level of practice characterised by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making. Advanced clinical practitioners work as part of a wider health and social care team, they manage complete episodes of clinical care, which means they can independently provide care from the time a patient first presents through to discharge.

The purpose of this module is to enable you to gain and expand your knowledge and skills in performing advanced health assessment as a health care professional. It will form the foundation for your on-going learning in advanced health assessment. A particular feature of this module is the opportunity to advance your physical assessment and diagnostic skills under the guidance of a coordinating education supervisor and workplace supervisors. You will study cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, musculoskeletal, dermatological, female and male health assessment and examination. Also, haematology, biochemistry, and E.C.G interpretation.

Advanced Health Assessment is considered within the context of best evidence and practice, the issue of significant negatives, consent, accountability and legal aspects, appropriate documentation.

A particular feature of this module is the opportunity to practice advance health assessment and leadership skills under the guidance of a clinical preceptor(s) in clinical practice.

The module is assessed with an assignment covering a critical analysis of a clinical assessment and diagnostic interpretation that has been undertaken in clinical practice which examines in detail appropriate aspects of the physical examination (history taking, auscultation, percussion, inspection, or palpation as appropriate) and each appropriate diagnostic test utilised. An OSCE examination and completion of a clinical competency document you need to have achieved 90 hrs supervised practice.