Skills Laboratory for taught sessions with appropriate clinical instruments to facilitate physical assessment
VHS recorder and Bates videos for visual guide to physical assessment
Library and Learning resources
Blackboard
Powerpoint
TV and VCR
Flipchart
Clinical Practice placement, Practice based Preceptor

This module enables nurse practitioners to gain and expand knowledge and skills in the performance of advanced health assessment. It focuses upon the principles and practice of health assessment and history taking to form a nursing diagnosis. Content enables practitioners to undertake comprehensive and focused physical examination and to facilitate the individual to relate the following core content to their particular clinical speciality:
Physical examination using a systems approach: cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, musculoskeletal, abdominal, head and neck. Associated pathophysiology, health history, health promotion and patient education
Physical examination 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 advance heath assessment skills under the guidance of a clinical preceptor.

The main focus of the skills laboratory-based learning will be the theory and student practice of health assessment skills (25%). The module requires active participation from students to relate and utilise elements of core health assessment skills and associated pathophysiology relevant to the students' clinical speciality. As part of the formative practice of health assessment skills students will practice these skills upon each other in the skills laboratory.
114 hours of associated study (75%) will be organised independently by the student. This independent study will involve activities related to pathophysiology and biomedical knowledge underpinning health assessment, and the practice of physical examination skills within your clinical speciality.

Student practice of health assessment and physical examination skills

In addition students may, if they wish, complete a formative assessment: student practice of health assessment and physical examination skills

Assessment meets all learning outcomes

Formative feedback : skills lab practice, practice feedback, tutorials, scenarios discussions,
Multi choice questions, role play.

Summative assessment : a case presentation to the clinical preceptor of a chosen patients comprehensive or focused health assessment (contributes to the achievement of learning outcome 1, 2 and 3).

A multiple choice question paper (40 minutes duration) to assess student underpinning knowledge of A&P/ pathophysiology / assessment process (contributes to the achievement of learning outcome 2 and 3).

Both parts must be passed

For Performance Criteria for grading, Pass, Merit, Distinction;

The performance criteria for a pass grade include:
Proficient, fluently, presented discussion/arguments that demonstrate understanding of clinical issues in the application of knowledge and skill.
Presentation includes critical analysis that demonstrates breadth and depth of knowledge and where appropriate literature in the subject area, and originality in presentation.
The use of evidence demonstrates an understanding of the advancement of the boundaries of knowledge and skill, and is used as a basis for problem solving.

The performance criteria for a merit grade:
A presentation which meets all the requirements of the past grade and in addition:
Presents discussion/arguments which have been underpinned by a thorough explanation of data and conceptual based evidence which may go beyond the boundaries of the discipline.
Discussion communicates ideas, arguments and diagnosis logically, concisely, clearly and effectively.

The performance criteria for a distinction grade:
An outstanding presentation which meets all of the requirements of a merit grade and in addition:
Demonstrates creativity and innovation.
Substantial evidence of critique, challenge and original thought.
The arguments and discussion presented are compelling and authoritative, and demonstrate synthesis to support new ideas.

1. Welsby, P.D. (2003)Clinical History taking and Examination (2nd edit ), Churchill- Livingstone, Elsevier Science Ltd.
2. Bickley, L. S. (2003) Bate?s Pocket Guide to Physical Examination and History taking (4th edit )
Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott. ISBN 0181738180
3. Wilson, K.J, Waugh. A, (1998) Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness, Churchill- Livingstone,
Pearson Professional Ltd, ISBN 0443051569
4. Thompson C. Dowding. D.(2002) Clinical decision making and Judgement in Nursing, London, Churchill- Livingstone ISBN 044070768

Students must be clinically based and have the support of a clinical preceptor for skills development and assessment of practice