Jonathan Mounsey
Senior Lecturer in Nursing
level:PG;top_up:false;international:false;foundation:false;clearing:false;full_time:false;part_time:false;start_month:February, June;location:false
Applied Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
Key Facts
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Level
PostgraduatePG
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Starting
February, June
FEB, JUN
Updated 03/11/2025
Updated 03/11/2025
Overview
This course aims to support registrants to continue to develop expertise and decision-making skills to support clinical reasoning approaches when dealing with differentiated and undifferentiated individual presentations. Information will be synthesised from multiple sources to make appropriate evidence-based judgements at an autonomous level.
This module builds upon the knowledge and skills developed in the Advanced Assessment and Consultation Skills module. As such, completion of that module, or an equivalent course in advanced assessment, is a prerequisite for undertaking this Applied Assessment and Clinical Reasoning module.
Highlights
- Inter-professional learning in an interactive and clinically focused academic environment.
- Taught sessions facilitated by experienced advanced practice staff.
- Work-based learning assessments are undertaken with clinical supervision to further support development.
- Can be later transferred into a full MSc Advanced Clinical Practice course.
Entry Requirements
Applicants will:
- Be a UK registered healthcare professionals (NMC/ HCPC/ GhPC) who have a minimum of three years postgraduate experience.
- Hold an appropriate healthcare or bachelor’s degree with honours/ have evidence of recent level 6 study.
- Be employed in a suitable UK healthcare setting to support work-based development and assessments.
- Meet the minimum English language requirements (see our IELTS page).
What You'll Learn
This is a 20-credit, level 7 postgraduate module which supports registrants to develop their applied assessment and clinical reasoning skills in the healthcare environment. The module is studied part-time over one semester. It is taught one day a week at university, comprising six taught days and one face-to-face assessment day.
Outside of taught sessions, students will be provided with guided learning activities and a work-based learning portfolio to support their development within the clinical setting. Students will need an appropriately qualified clinical supervisor* to undertake supervision and sign off work-based learning portfolio assessments to complete each module within the award.
Core indicative content: continued development of consultation and examination skills (including assessment of eyes, ENT, MSK, skin, mental health), legal, professional and ethical implications
Assessments for this module are a work-based learning portfolio, an OSCE assessment, and a written critical reflection.
February 2026 session delivery dates (Wednesdays):
04 February, 11 February, 04 March, 11 March, 25 March, 15 April. There is a mock OSCE opportunity on 29 April, and the OSCE assessment takes place on 13 May.
June 2026 session delivery dates (Thursdays)
04 June, 18 June, 02 July, 09 July, 23 July, 30 July. There is a mock OSCE opportunity on 13 August, and the OSCE assessment takes place on 03 September.
*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.
If you have any questions about admissions for this module, please contact healthcpd@northampton.ac.uk
If you have any course-related queries, please contact advancedpractice@northampton.ac.uk
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.
- UK Part-time: £945 per 20 credit module
Staff
