MSc Advanced Professional and Clinical Practice

This Master's 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 our local world-class healthcare providers help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.

Additional Awards Gained

£3000 placement fee

Prizes and Awards

Applicants are welcome to apply for the Patricia Napier scholarship;

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Advanced Professional Practice Specialist Pathways

We recognise that students at this level are interested in career advancement. Therefore, we have developed a wide range of modules; students can choose six modules from these, some of which 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.

Pathway 1: Leadership and Management

Students completing this pathway will consider leadership and strategic issues in the global delivery of healthcare. Graduates of the programme are able to demonstrate advanced practice in the context of emerging issues and clinical circumstances.

Pathway 2: Maternal and Child Health

Students completing this pathway will often come from a Midwifery or Children's Nursing background. Modules offered to consider issues such as family-centred health and social care, or developments in childbirth.

Some of these modules are only available to registered midwives.

Pathway 3: Acute and Critical Care

Our Acute and Critical Care pathway incorporates issues such as health assessment, as well as the treatment of cardiac patients or patients in other acute settings. Taught by professionals who are leaders in their fields, examples are drawn from practice, using current issues to develop new ideas.

Pathway 4: Mental Health and the Older Adult

Taught by regional specialists in Dementia Care, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Care of the Older Person, this suite of modules addresses current best practices in the care and treatment of patients with dementia and other mental health conditions.

Pathway 5: Cancer Nursing: Supportive and Palliative Care

Students following this pathway will explore the latest evidence for the care and treatment of cancer patients, including palliative care.

Research Modules and Dissertation

All students must undertake at least one of these modules:

• Applied Research Methods and Statistics in Nursing;
  or
• Qualitative Research Methods

All students must also undertake a 15,000-word dissertation, which must be based on a study that contains evidence of critical thinking along with rational and cogent arguments and debates. The study will be based on current thinking and provide evidence of research, knowledge and skills at the Master's level.

Specialist Optional Modules

Students will combine modules from the specialist pathways above with a selection of general modules, some of which are listed below.

• Law for Healthcare Professionals
• Clinical Inquiry and Applied Practice-Based Research
• Pharmacotherapeutics for Practice
• Independent Study Module

Please note that modules are subject to viable numbers, so the modules offered may vary. If you are interested in a subject that is not listed above, please contact the school for advice.

Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:

Clinical Placement

Students undertaking this programme will undertake a clinical placement in a clinical environment of their choice, which is tailored to meet the students' requirements. While on placement students will complete a portfolio, and meet defined learning outcomes.

Learning Environment

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 students to achieve their full academic potential.

On the MSc in Advanced Professional and Clinical Practice we do this by providing a range of learning experiences that 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.

Assessment

Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:

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.

Prizes and Awards

Applicants are welcome to apply for the Patricia Napier scholarship.