Clare Cooper
Senior Lecturer in Nursing (Advanced Practitioner)
level:PO;top_up:false;international:false;foundation:false;clearing:false;full_time:false;part_time:false;start_month:February;location:Waterside
Assessment and Management of Minor Illness
Key Facts
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Module Code
NURM089
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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 is designed to equip registered allied health professionals from a variety of settings with the underlying principles required to facilitate integrated, autonomous assessment and management of minor illness.
Highlights
- Inter-professional and clinically focused module content which supports the development of advanced practice within the scope of minor illness.
- Work-based learning component to further support the development of clinical knowledge and skills within the scope of minor illness.
- Sessions are facilitated by practicing clinicians with subject specific experience.
- 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
Through undertaking this module, registrants will develop the knowledge and skills required to undertake thorough, holistic minor illness consultations which incorporate a symptom-based, patient safety-focused approach. Emphasis will be placed on utilising critical analysis to inform evidence-based patient assessment, management, referral and discharge. Registrants will also build on existing knowledge and skills to provide anticipatory guidance and educate patients in self-care.
It is envisaged that this module will prepare registrants towards achieving autonomous advanced-level practice, underpinned by 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 illness.
- Applied consultation and history taking skills.
- Assessment considerations across the lifespan
- Physical Examination of systems pertinent to minor illness
- Informed diagnostic reasoning and critical appraisal of evidence-based management strategies to inform decision making.
- Assessment & management of common minor illness presentations, such as (but not limited to) upper and lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, conjunctivitis, headaches, dizziness, gastroenteritis, reflux and minor skin conditions.
- Limitations of minor illness assessment and the importance of safety-netting and appropriate referral within minor illness
- 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 February. 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 learning.
For the work-based learning element of the module, registrants are required to evidence their clinical experience assessing and managing patients with minor illnesses 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.
Registrants will also be required to present a case study from their practice and submit a 2000-word critical analysis assignment linked to their presented case study.
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.*
- 04/02/2026
- 11/02/2026
- 25/02/2026
- 04/03/2026
- 11/03/2026
- 18/03/2026
- Assessment/Presentation date: 22/04/2026
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
This module links with Assessment and Management of Minor Injury.
It can be taken as a standalone module or part of MSc Advanced Clinical Practice.
