Clare Cooper
Senior Lecturer in Nursing (Advanced Practitioner)
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Assessment and Management of Minor Injury
Key Facts
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Module Code
NURM078
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Duration
1 semester, part-time
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Part Time: £945 per 20 credit module
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Waterside
Updated 03/11/2025
Updated 03/11/2025
Overview
This module develops healthcare registrants in the assessment, diagnosis and management of minor injuries to deliver autonomous, evidence-based care for service users across the age spectrum presenting with undiagnosed minor injuries.
Highlights
- Inter-professional and clinically focused module content which supports the development of advanced practice within the scope of minor injury.
- Work-based learning component to further support the development of clinical knowledge and skills within the scope of minor injury.
- Sessions are facilitated by faculty practising at an advanced level within clinically relevant roles.
- Can be later transferred into a PgCert Urgent Care or full MSc Advanced Clinical Practice course.
Entry Requirements
- Applicants must hold an appropriate healthcare or bachelor’s degree with honours, or have evidence of recent level 6 study.
- Be employed in or have access to a suitable UK healthcare setting to support work-based development and assessments of same-day ill-health presentations
- They must be a UK-registered healthcare professional with a minimum of 3 years post-graduate experience.
- Nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and pharmacists with current professional body registrations are encouraged to apply.
For further information regarding this module, please contact Clare Cooper (module lead) via advancedpractice@northampton.ac.uk
What You'll Learn
The module aims to equip healthcare registrants with the advanced knowledge and skills necessary for the autonomous assessment, diagnosis, and management of a wide range of undifferentiated minor injuries. Healthcare registrants will be supported to develop and refine physical examination skills pertinent to minor injury assessment, such as musculoskeletal examination. Emphasis on a critical understanding of the principles and evidence-based practices underpinning minor injury assessment will enable registrants to make safe and effective clinical decisions. Registrants will also build on existing knowledge and skills to promote holistic assessment, which incorporates legal, ethical, and policy considerations pertinent to minor injury and advancing autonomous practice.
It is envisaged that this module will prepare healthcare registrants towards achieving autonomous advanced-level practice, underpinned with contemporary evidence, aligned with the core capabilities set out in the multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice.
The module will cover:
- Review of anatomy and physiology pertinent to minor injury.
- Applied consultation and history taking skills.
- Assessment considerations across the lifespan.
- Physical Examination of systems pertinent to minor injury, inclusive of upper & lower limb musculoskeletal examination.
- Diagnostic imaging – An introduction to indications and interpretation of minor injury-related X-rays.
- Informed diagnostic reasoning and critical appraisal of evidence-based management strategies to inform decision making.
- Assessment & management of common minor injury presentations, such as (but not limited to) upper and lower limb musculoskeletal injuries (sprains, strains and fractures), wounds & burns, head and facial injuries.
- Limitations of minor injury assessment and the importance of safety-netting and appropriate referral.
- Professional, legal and ethical responsibilities.
This is a 20-credit, level 7 module which utilises an active blended learning approach. Course material is delivered face to face over six taught days, starting in June. Sessions typically take a systems-based approach, incorporating lectures, case-based scenarios, interactive group work, online learning and practical simulation activities at the University. There is also a requirement for some individualised guided study between sessions, in addition to enhancing their learning through work-based supervision.
For the work-based learning element of the module, registrants are required to evidence their clinical experience assessing and managing patients with minor injuries in their workplace or self-arranged placement with a clinical supervisor*.
Registrants will be required to provide 15 individual pieces of evidence, inclusive of a minimum of x6 observed patient assessments under the supervision of an experienced Clinical Supervisor of the registrant’s choosing. Registrants will be required to log their clinical assessment evidence within an electronic online repository, to undertake an OSCE and submit a 2000-word critical analysis assignment.
Throughout the module, students will have access to tutor support, both on taught days at the university and through email as required.
*Clinical supervisors will need to be either medical staff working at registrar level or above, or a Nurse/AHP/ACP who has completed related level 7 modules at least 3 years ago, and who is using this as part of their job role.*
- 03/06/2026
- 10/06/2026
- 17/06/2026
- 24/06/2026
- 01/07/2026
- 08/07/2026
- Mock practical assessment 15/07/2026
- Case-Based Exam/OSCE Assessment 12/08/2026
Fees and Funding
2025/26 Tuition Fees
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
- Module costs: £945 per 20 credit module
For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
- Module costs: £920 per 20 credit module
Please contact Karen Edwards for further information about fees for this module.
For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.
Staff
Careers and Employability
It can be taken as a standalone module or part of: Assessment and Management of Minor Illness.
