MSc Advanced Paramedic Practice

Program Overview

This part-time MSc in Advanced Paramedic Practice prepares paramedics for clinical settings ranging from primary and urgent care to emergency and critical care through a combination of core and optional modules, alongside clinical placements. Graduates are equipped for advanced paramedic practice in various settings, including research and leadership roles. The program incorporates a research-tutored approach and simulation for practical skill development.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Program Content: The MSc in Advanced Paramedic Practice is designed to develop advanced paramedics in a variety of clinical settings.
The program incorporates two pathways for aspiring advanced paramedics: Primary and Urgent Care and Emergency and Critical Care. Each pathway includes core and optional modules, providing the opportunity to develop knowledge and clinical skills and prepare for clinical practice as an Advanced Paramedic.
• Program Structure: The program is part-time, allowing students to maintain clinical practice while studying.
The program is typically three years in length, with students taking a combination of core and optional modules each year.
• Course Schedule: The course schedule varies depending on the pathway chosen.
The Primary and Urgent Care pathway includes modules such as Advanced Patient Assessment and Clinical Reasoning, Minor Illness and Minor Injury for Advanced Practice, and Research Methods. The Emergency and Critical Care pathway includes modules such as Advanced Patient Assessment and Clinical Reasoning, Advanced Airway Management and Ventilation, and Management of the Critically Ill or Injured Patient.
• Individual Modules:
• Advanced Patient Assessment and Clinical Reasoning:
This module aims to enable students to take a comprehensive health history from a patient/carer and to develop skills in assessing a patient's physical and mental health. Students will develop advanced physical examination skills and be able to adapt these to the age of the patient, the setting, and any individual needs. Students will then develop the art and science of clinical reasoning, decision making, and care planning.
• Advanced Airway Management and Ventilation: This module aims to give the student a comprehensive understanding of airway management and ventilation strategies in the critically ill or injured patient.
• Cardiology for Urgent and Emergency Care: This module aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills required for the assessment and management of patients presenting with cardiovascular conditions in the urgent and emergency care environment.
• Coaching Skills for Leading: The module will comprise of theoretical lectures, workshops, tutorials and seminar sessions to facilitate the development of the fundamental knowledge, understanding and skills underpinning the roles and responsibilities of coaching and its application within leadership.
• Enabling Learning in Contemporary Healthcare: Through this module, students will develop a wide range of transferable skills relating to the advancement of teaching, learning and assessment in practice and academic settings.
Students will be enabled to articulate their understanding of pedagogic research and educational theories and their application to practice−based learning.
• Evidence Based Practice – Online Learning: This module covers skills in literature searching, information retrieval, and provides the opportunity to use electronic search databases and critical appraisal of evidence.
You will be expected to challenge current practice by conducting a literature search and producing critique of a published study. These skills will inform your clinical decision making.
• Leadership Education and Developing Others: The aim of this module is to enable students to continue to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills of leadership, education and professional development.
• Management of the Critically Ill or Injured Patient: This module aims to enhance the students’ knowledge, understanding and confidence in the management of critically ill and/or injured patients in a range of clinical settings.
• Minor Illness and Injury for Advanced Practice: Students will develop a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the knowledge, skills and attributes necessary to safely assess patients with minor illness or minor injury using a systems-based approach, identifying appropriate management strategies and/or onward referral for each patient.
• Musculoskeletal Pathologies: Image Recognition for Healthcare Professionals: This module is designed for healthcare professionals in providing an overview of the pathophysiological processes that affect the musculoskeletal system.
It will develop knowledge in areas of patient presentation in relation to the pathological processes occurring. Knowledge of imaging modalities utilised within patient management of pathological processes will be developed. It will also review imaging modalities and radiographic technique in relation to relevant legislation.
• Musculoskeletal Trauma: Image Recognition for Healthcare Professionals: This module is designed for healthcare professionals in providing an overview of the pathophysiological processes that affect the musculoskeletal system.
It will develop knowledge in areas of patient presentation in relation to the traumatic processes occurring, with emphasis on the radiographic image appearances of normal and traumatic processes within the musculoskeletal system.
• Negotiated Learning 1: This module is designed for AHP health professionals who want to gain an in depth understanding of a particular subject area in which they have a specific interest and that is not provided through taught modules.
There are no specific days when you are required to attend the University. Communication is with an allocated supervisor and arranged to suit your needs.
• Negotiated Learning 2: This module is designed for AHP health professionals who want to gain an in depth understanding of a particular subject area in which they have a specific interest and that is not provided through taught modules.
There are no specific days when you are required to attend the University. Communication is with an allocated supervisor and arranged to suit your needs.
• Paediatric Urgent and Emergency Care: This course aims to enhance the students’ knowledge, understanding and confidence in approaching a range of Paediatric Urgent and Emergency Care presentations.
The course will look in detail at effective assessment and clinical management of minor and major illness and injury.
• Preparation for Research Project: This module builds on Research Methods fostering a “research-tutored” approach where students critically appraise the evidence in relation to their own discipline in order to identify a feasible research question and an appropriate means to answer it.
• Research Methods: In this module students develop their skills and understanding of different methodologies and methods that can be used in healthcare research.
Application of these skills will be invaluable to those looking to undertake MSc projects.
• Research Project: This course is for paramedics, physiotherapists, radiographers, radiotherapists, nurses and midwives who have successfully completed master’s level research methods and preparation for research project modules and who wish to undertake a piece of original research in order to complete their Master’s award.
• Supporting Practice Education: This module has been developed to support practitioners in their role as educators and assessors.
It is suitable for any health or social care professional who has a practice supervisor role and is intended to develop skills in providing education within the practice environment.
• Toxicology for Urgent and Emergency Care: This module aims to provide students with a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the core elements of clinical toxicology in the urgent and emergency care arena; including how to recognise, evaluate and manage these patient presentations.

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: The program is delivered through a combination of online and face-to-face teaching, workshops, and discussion forums.
Practical simulation is used to develop technical and non-technical skills.
• Faculty: The program is taught by a multi-professional faculty of clinical experts.
• Unique Approaches: The program incorporates a research-tutored approach, where students critically appraise the evidence in relation to their own discipline to identify a feasible research question and an appropriate means to answer it.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths: Graduates of this program will typically be eligible to apply for employment as an Advanced Paramedic in primary care, urgent care, or emergency care settings.
• Opportunities: The program prepares students for advanced paramedic practice, including roles in leadership, education, and research.
• Outcomes: Graduates of this program are well-prepared for a successful career as an Advanced Paramedic.

Other:

• Clinical Placements: Students will have access to a range of clinical placements relevant to their pathway.
This may include observational placements within a critical care team or structured placement in a primary care setting.
• Accreditation: The program is mapped against the HEE framework for Advanced Clinical Practice and meets a number of the requirements to practice at an advanced level.