Queen's University Belfast

Professional & Clinical Practice - Advanced

Overview
This MSc offers a taught programme of study that sets out to nurture emerging and innovative professional practitioners. It is delivered through five specialist pathways which correspond with the key areas of expertise within the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

The programme is offered on a full-time basis and combines face-to-face teaching with online delivery. Those taking the programme on a full-time basis may be eligible to do so incorporating a Clinical Practicum by the agreement with the Programme Co-Ordinator.

Advanced Professional and Clinical Practice highlights
With approximately 3,500 students, the School has one of the most extensive portfolios of programmes of any nursing and midwifery school in the UK or Ireland.

Student Experience
•The programme is offered on a full-time basis and combines face-to-face teaching with online delivery. Those taking the programme on a full-time basis may be eligible to do so incorporating a Clinical Practicum by agreement with the Programme Co-ordinator.

Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:
At Queen's, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.

On the PgDip in Advanced Professional and Clinical Practice we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners.

Teaching is across a combination of morning, evening and afternoon classes with some modules being taught entirely online.

Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course include; lectures, practical experiences, E-Learning technologies, Self-directed study and added value qualifications to enhance employability.

Entry requirements

Entrance requirements
Graduate
Applicants must have a professional qualification in Nursing or Midwifery. They shall normally hold a relevant 2.2 Honours degree or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

Applicants with a 3rd Class Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) will be considered on a case-by-case basis, if they can demonstrate appropriate experience with in-service training, acceptable to the School.

Applicants who do not meet the entry requirements should contact the Programme Co-ordinator for advice.

The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicy

International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
•Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
•Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

Duration

2 years full-time, 3 years part-time.

Teaching Times
Teaching is across a combination of morning, evening and afternoon classes with some modules being taught entirely online.

Careers or further progression

Career Prospects
Introduction
This Masters programme offers an opportunity for students to develop skills of analytical thinking within a clinical context. Alongside this, the programme facilitates the student's continued professional development. Graduates of this programme progress into management and leadership roles, or continue into a research or education capacity.

Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts helps our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.

Further enquiries

Dr Kevin Gormley 
Senior Lecturer (Education)
School of Nursing & Midwifery
Kj.Gormley@qub.ac.uk

Subjects taught

Introduction
Students can choose six modules from those listed, but some are specialist modules and require the student to be working in a relevant area of practice. All students must complete one of the compulsory modules and a dissertation.

Acute and Critical Care:
Designed for practitioners from a wide variety of critical care environments who wish to advance their clinical practice, develop their professional career and enhance their knowledge of research and evidence-based health care in the critical setting:

Health Assessment
Specialist Assessment of the Cardiac Patient

Cancer Nursing: Supportive and Palliative Care:
Designed to allow a flexible postgraduate programme of study for experienced oncology and palliative care practitioners, who wish to extend their academic and clinical capability to meet the needs of their patients:

The Basis of Therapeutic Practice and Communication Skills
Dimensions of Practice

Leadership and Management:
Designed to offer an advanced educational foundation to enable health and social care professionals to lead and manage effectively:

Leading and Facilitating in Clinical Practice
Successful Leading for Health and Social Care Professionals

Maternal and Child Health:
Practice-focused educational pathway of advanced study for practitioners who are closely involved in the provision of health and social care for women, babies, children, young people and their families. Educational innovations are used to promote learning and facilitate the delivery of excellence in the form of evidence-based quality care at the highest level:

Perspectives of Family-centred Health and Social Care
Mental Health and the Older Adult:
Designed to develop practitioners' critical awareness of the broader contexts and influences that impact on older people and those requiring support in the maintenance of their mental health. Practitioners with an academic interest in concepts such as successful ageing and ageing well will be enabled to critically review the current political and social influences associated with demographic change, ageing and globalisation:

Fundamentals of CBT Assessment
Rethinking Ageing

General Optional Modules
Clinical Inquiry and Applied Practice Based Research
Law for Healthcare Professionals
Pharmacotherapeutics for Practice
Independent Study Module

Compulsory Modules
Applied Research Methods and Statistics in Nursing

Qualitative Research Methods

The programme runs from September to June each year. All students must complete 3 modules in Semester 1, and 3 modules in Semester 2. This will be followed by a compulsory period of clinical practice in May-June with one of our internationally recognised clinical training partners. Module choices are subject to availability and the approval of the Programme Director. This flexible approach to study is designed to meet the needs of students coming from diverse backgrounds and differing specialty areas.

Assessment method

Students must successfully complete six modules including one compulsory research module and a dissertation. The pass mark for all taught modules and the dissertation is 50 per cent. Each module is assessed by coursework (some modules have a written examination). All students must also successfully complete a clinical placement.