School of Nursing and Midwifery

MSc Advanced Critical Care Practitioner

Duration

1 year

Course type

Part-time

Study location Plymouth

Continue your studies and gain your MSc Advanced Critical Care Practitioner qualification with our new top-up programme, designed to follow on from the PgDip Advanced Critical Care Practitioner programme. This final year will equip you with advanced research skills and deeper understanding of how to improve patient care. Please note: you must have completed the PgDip Advanced Critical Care Practitioner programme to enrol for this award.

First choice for health

Delivered by professional experts, our programmes are tailored to you and your career. Together, we address today's most challenging healthcare issues, through research-informed teaching and active, real-world learning. #firstchoiceforhealth  

Key features

  • Increase your understanding and use of complex data to evaluate the effectiveness of critical care delivery. This will enable you to be innovative and utilise both knowledge and skills to continue to improve patient care.
  • Demonstrate your ability to work in complex and unpredictable environments, developing your problem solving skills and the ability to take the initiative in your workplace.
  • Develop a clinically focused project to enhance and benefit your practice.
  • Join a programme developed through a dynamic collaborative working relationship between the University, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and other local NHS trusts, providing opportunities for networking and career development.
  • Shape your studies around your existing expertise with our student-centred approach.
  • Equip yourself with the skills to be responsive to the ever-changing nature of the healthcare environment. This contemporary and dynamic programme means you can position yourself at the leading edge of critical care practice.
  • Benefit from the extensive professional experience of our team, hailing from a diverse range of health and social care environments.
  • Accredited by the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM).
This programme is also available as an Apprenticeship MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Critical Care. For further information on the apprenticeship route and details of how your employer can apply for you please visit our apprenticeship webpage .

Course details

  • Programme overview

  • Please note: you must have completed the PgDip Advanced Critical Care Practitioner programme to enrol for this award.

    Optional modules

    SPP702
    Substantive Professional Project

    The substantive project enables the student to demonstrate their ability to manage practice development. The project provides an opportunity to apply knowledge and understanding of methodology and methods to develop an area of practice, evaluating the impact or potential impact upon the practice area. Students may undertake this project in their actual workplace, or the workplace may be a defined sphere of practice.

    APP701
    Advancing Practice in Context

    This module will enable the student to develop their professional understanding within Advancing Practice, allowing them to consider the legal and ethical boundaries, the working environment and the complexities of their practice.

    APP707
    CBT Interventions for Mental Health Professionals (Psychosis)

    This module will focus on the development of in depth knowledge and skills in the use of CBT with a focus on supporting people experiencing psychosis. This includes effective assessment, formulation and the development of therapeutic relationships and skills required for the effective and adaptable use of CBT in psychosis. There will be a focus on reflective practice and workplace-based cases to ensure clinical relevance.

    APP709
    Working with People with a Diagnosis of Personality Disorder

    The module seeks to underpin modern mental health practice in working with people whose personality difficulties lead them to come into conflict with others, engage in harm to themselves or to be labelled as 'personality disordered. The module is designed to address evidence based interventions in a range of settings. There will be a focus on reflective practice and workplace-based cases to ensure clinical relevance.

    APP718
    Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare Practice

    Students will analyse, explore and debate ethical and legal concepts, issues and theories relating to health and social care. This module gives students the tools necessary to undertake critical decisions within their professional practice enabling them to reflect on their knowledge, their practice, and the conduct and performance of healthcare organisations.

    APP719
    Advanced Newborn and Infant Examination

    This module enables practitioners who have undertaken a programme of learning to demonstrate mastery in the examination of the newborn/infant, applying complex and creative synthesis of the evidence base to this autonomous professional role.

    APP720DL
    Advanced Newborn and Infant Examination (APL)

    This module enables practitioners who have undertaken a programme of learning to demonstrate mastery in the examination of the newborn/infant, applying complex and creative synthesis of the evidence base to this autonomous professional role.

    APP720P
    Advanced Newborn and Infant Examination (APL)

    This module enables practitioners who have undertaken a programme of learning to demonstrate mastery in the examination of the newborn/infant, applying complex and creative synthesis of the evidence base to this autonomous professional role.

    APP721
    Perinatal Mental Health

    This module will prepare students to show mastery of knowledge and the development and management of the care of childbearing women with perinatal mental health needs. It is research informed and prepares students to interrogate the available evidence to inform decision making. The needs of mothers and babies; before, during and after birth, will be at the centre of care with a strong emphasis on respect and dignity.

    APP727
    The Child and Young Person with Mental Health Needs

    This module will enhance existing knowledge and skills of the holistic care of children with mental health needs and their family.

    APP728
    Preceptorship (APEL)

    This module is specifically designed to enable students to accredit their professional preceptorship practice development through by building on and reflecting on their learning and experience gained through undertaking a preceptorship Programme within their organisation.

    APP732
    Advancing the Care and Support of the Person with Dementia and their Carer

    This module is designed to meet the educational needs of practitioners who care for the person with dementia and their carer in a general setting. This module will link evidence based theory to current clinical practice and provide strategies in order to improve service delivery and give effective high quality care.

    APP738
    Management of Children/ Young People Requiring Urgent or Emergency Care

    This module will enhance practitioners existing knowledge and skills in the holistic care of children/young people within the context of the family. It will facilitate the recognition, assessment and management of children/young people requiring urgent or emergency care for illness/injury in a range of settings.

    APP739
    Enhancing Practice in Paediatric Palliative Care

    This inter-professional module aims to enhance the deeper practice of all professionals delivering palliative care to children, young people and their families. The module will build upon existing knowledge and experience while enabling students to develop a critical and reflective approach to the care of a child or young person on a palliative care pathway.

    APP739Z
    Enhancing Practice in Paediatric Palliative Care

    This inter-professional module aims to enhance the deeper practice of all professionals delivering palliative care to children, young people and their families. The module will build upon existing knowledge and experience while enabling students to develop a critical and reflective approach to the care of a child or young person on a palliative care pathway.

    APP741
    Advocacy and Education for Quality Improvement in Practice (A-EQUIP) Full module

    This module will ensure that A-EQUIP is able to be delivered in practice. It will prepare registrants in the supervision which will be determined locally based on operational guidance that has been developed by NHS England.

    APP744
    Substance Misuse and Dual Diagnosis

    This module focuses on the services and interventions for people who misuse a range of substances or have 'dual diagnosis' implying co-existing mental health problems. Participants will develop their skills for working with this group, consider the influence of various models and approaches as well as the issues for them as individuals and for society.

    APP749
    Supervision of Learning and Assessment in Practice

    This module will enable the student to enhance their role in providing a contribution to the education and facilitation of students/learners and the development of education within their practice setting.

    APP751
    Critical Care of Children and Young People, Advancing Knowledge and Skills

    This module will challenge the knowledge and skills of health care professionals in the care of the deteriorating child and young person requiring critical care. The module will build upon the existing knowledge of participants, and through critical analysis apply this to the care of the child/young person requiring critical care across a range of clinical settings.

    APP752
    Work Based Learning

    This module enables the student to identify individual work based objectives that address the learning outcomes (see below) of this module.

    APP754
    Diabetes Mellitus

    A module for the practitioner to explore core knowledge issues relating to diabetes mellitus, based upon diabetes competencies.

    APP755
    Transition into General Practice

    This module provides education to support professional development in general practice and primary care networks. Students will learn about and develop skills in the analysis of delivering person-centred care with a focus on primary prevention, public health initiatives and health screening.

    APP756
    Embedding in General Practice

    This module aims to equip those working in a general practice setting or primary care networks with the necessary generic practice skills to function in this environment whilst encouraging a critical view of practice and the developing of strategies for change.

    APP757
    Advancing within General Practice

    This module aims to equip students with knowledge, understanding and capability to deliver person-centred care required to fulfil the role of the General Practice Nurse as defined by the RCGP Nursing standards and in alignment with national Department of Health and Health Education England initiatives. Through undertaking a comprehensive health assessment develop treatment and management strategies.

    APP759
    Advancing Knowledge of Learning and Teaching for Practice

    This module prepares the student to make a demonstrable contribution to education and take a lead role in the development of education in practice. Participants are enabled to apply contemporary educational knowledge, skills, and behaviour to address emerging issues in educational practice. The module is designed to be delivered face-to-face, by blended learning and/or via distance learning approaches.

    APP761
    Enhanced Maternal Care

    This module will provide the practitioner with an in depth knowledge and understanding of Enhanced Maternal Care (EMC) in the Obstetric Unit (OU) setting. It will encompass a comprehensive examination of all aspects of Enhanced Maternal Care and the decision making that underpins such care.

    APP762
    Emergency Nursing Care

    This module is designed to enable nursing staff to develop existing professional skills in Emergency Care. They will critically evaluate and develop specialist knowledge in order to effectively assess, prioritise, plan and deliver effective evidence-based care to the patient presenting to the Emergency Department.

    APP763
    Sexual Health (Family Planning and Women's Health)

    This module has been specifically designed to focus on the principles and issues involved in delivering contraceptive services to women within the community setting. This includes comprehensive coverage of managing fertility and incorporates key competences to be gained in practice.

    APP765
    Advanced Psychosocial Assessment and Formulation

    This module will enable students to develop a systematic understanding of conceptual frameworks and the use of therapeutic factors to undertake comprehensive and collaborative biopsychosocial assessments of mental health presentations, and develop a critical understanding of person-centred formulations and the use of internationally recognised classification criteria. There will be a focus on reflective practice and application.

    APP766
    Developing Expertise in Urgent & Emergency Care

    This module is designed to enable healthcare professionals to critically examine and develop in an area of professional clinical practice, in Urgent & Emergency Care. Taught workshops will guide the student, building on their pre-existing body of knowledge to critically develop their skills in health assessment, clinical examination and clinical reasoning.

    APP767
    Mental Health Assessment in Urgent, Emergency and Acute Care

    This module aims to increase knowledge and skills of practitioners working in urgent, emergency and acute care settings and who work with individuals experiencing mental health issues. It explores the principles and process of mental health assessment and the practice of determining appropriate intervention alongside prioritisation of client need based on the current guidance.

    APP768
    Coaching and Leadership

    Coaching and Leadership is a module focused on developing your confidence and competence to lead and develop yourself and others. Students will be able to understand and explore coaching theory and practice using a variety of tools in order to underpin coaching and leadership practice.

    APP729DL
    Enhancing End of Life Care and Palliative Care Practice

    APP748
    Surgical First Assistant

    Develop mastery of clinical skills, knowledge and competence to safely perform the role of Surgical First Assistant as described by the Perioperative Care Collaborative (2018).

    APP755E
    Transition into General Practice

    This module provides education to support professional development in general practice and primary care networks. Students will learn about and develop skills in the analysis of delivering person-centred care with a focus on primary prevention, public health initiatives and health screening.

    APP757E
    Advancing within General Practice

    This module aims to equip students with knowledge, understanding and capability to deliver person-centred care required to fulfil the role of the General Practice Nurse as defined by the RCGP Nursing standards and in alignment with national Department of Health and Health Education England initiatives. Through undertaking a comprehensive health assessment develop treatment and management strategies.

    APP770
    Advanced Assessment for Clinical Practice

    This module will enable experienced inter-disciplinary practitioners to undertake a systematic and structured history taking assessments and physical examinations on the main systems of the body at an advanced level. The aim is to be able to differentiate between normal and abnormal findings supported by an in-depth understanding of underlying anatomy and physiology of each system whilst recognising the significance of those findings. Emphasis will be on developing an understanding of systems and patho-physiology when seeing and managing patients with undiagnosed and undifferentiated presentations across all healthcare settings. The focus is on interdisciplinary learning to develop the skills needed to make safe, sound clinical decisions within a range of clinical settings, when consulting with patients and clients with diverse health needs across all healthcare settings. At the end of the module, the learner will be able to complete a systematic and structured history taking assessment alongside a physical examination which will allow relatability of findings across all healthcare settings.

    APP771
    Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning for Advanced Practice

    The practitioner will develop a cognitive approach to apply theories and clinical decision making to patients seen in practice. The aim will be to underpin this approach with high-level judgements in complex decision across a broad and generic range of presentations, incorporating comprehensive health assessments and appropriate, well-proportioned and a safe management plans. This will include exploration of various investigations and their interpretations, pharmacology therapeutics, conservative advice and safety netting. There is a focus on interdisciplinary learning to develop the skills needed to make safe, sound clinical decisions within a range of clinical settings, when consulting with patients and clients with diverse health needs across all healthcare settings. At the end of the module, the learner will be able to complete a systematic and structured consultation including history taking, physical examinations and developing an appropriate and reasoned management plan, relating findings to the ultimate goal of clinical decision making.

    APP768DL
    Coaching and Leadership

    Coaching and Leadership is a module focused on developing your confidence and competence to lead and develop yourself and others. Students will be able to understand and explore coaching theory and practice using a variety of tools in order to underpin coaching and leadership practice.

    APP774
    The Fundamentals of Health Assessment and Common Illnesses

    This module will enable the student to develop the underpinning knowledge and professional understanding of the practical and theoretical management of patient presenting with common minor illness across healthcare settings. They will consider the clinical, legal and ethical boundaries and recognise the limitations within their scope of practice and working environment.

    APP776
    Clinical Judgement and Decision Making in Healthcare

    This module draws on knowledge, skills and experiences gained through work as a registered healthcare professional and further develops clinical reasoning ability, within the context of NMC scope of practice.

    APP777P
    Applied Physiology in Critical Illness

    This module is designed to allow health care professionals to advance their systematic knowledge and understanding of the anatomy and pathophysiology of critical illness in adults, with the aim of, improving their professional practice in the critical care environment.

    APP778P
    Advanced Concepts in Critical Care

    This module is designed for healthcare professionals currently working in an adult critical care environment, who want to increase their critical awareness of advanced insights of critical care practice. It will provide the opportunity to innovate with a service improvement project and advance their professional practice.

    APP779P
    Core Concepts in Critical Care

    This module is designed for healthcare professionals currently working in an adult critical care environment, who want to increase their critical awareness of advanced insights of critical care practice. It will provide the opportunity to innovate with a service improvement project and advance their professional practice.

    APP775
    Assessment and Management of Minor Injuries

    This module will enable the student to develop the underpinning knowledge and professional understanding of the practical and theoretical management of patients presenting with common minor injuries across healthcare settings. They will consider the clinical, legal and ethical boundaries and recognise the limitations within their scope of practice and working environment.

    APP772DL
    Public Health and Health Promotion

    This module provides the opportunity to critically explore the field of public health and health promotion practice. Concepts such as demography, epidemiology, political drivers, ethical issues, wider determinants of health, health inequalities, and sustainability will be explored, and health promotion models and approaches will be critically analysed and applied to practice.

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MSc Advanced Critical Care Practitioner programme specification_6146

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course will need:
  • to have completed the PgDip Advanced Critical Care Practitioner programme within the last 5 years
  • evidence of employment from their home trust
  • a named consultant intensivist who will be the clinical supervisor
  • a current live registration with either the Nursing and Midwifery Council (Part 1 or 2) or The Health and Care Professions Council
  • three years post-qualifying experience in intensive care
  • a satisfactory enhanced DBS (formerly CRB) check
  • a satisfactory Occupational Health Clearance.
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary .

Fees, costs and funding

Student 2024-2025 2025-2026
Home To be confirmed To be confirmed
International To be confirmed To be confirmed
Part time (Home) To be confirmed To be confirmed
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per 60 credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding.
Please see the module webpage for SPP702 for further information.
Please be aware that there may be additional costs to undertaking your studies relating to printing of course materials, and requirement for an initial outlay for travel and accommodation in respect of practice placement. If you have any questions regarding these costs please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.
International
If you are studying on a programme where placements are integral to your study there are costs associated with travel and accommodation. Please speak with the programme admissions tutor to find out more.

Tuition fee discount for University of Plymouth graduates

If you studied your undergraduate degree at Plymouth, you may be eligible for a fee discount if you complete your postgraduate studies here as well.
  • 10% or 20% discount on tuition fees for home students 
  • For 2024/2025 entry, a 20% discount on tuition fees for international students (International alumni who have applied to the University through an agent are not eligible to receive the discount)

How to apply

Apply online

Applying for this programme
Please visit our admissions homepage for full details on the application process and to download the relevant forms.
Please return your completed forms to:
Professional Development Unit
4th floor, Rolle Building
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth, PL4 8AA
What happens after I apply?
After your application is received by the PDU Admissions team, it will be processed and sent to the Programme Lead for a decision to be made on your suitability to study. You may be asked to provide additional information or to take part in an interview (for overseas students this may be by telephone or video conference). Once this decision has been made, you will be sent an email either confirming your place on the programme, or rejecting your application and giving the reasons for this decision (you may request further feedback in order to improve your chances of selection at a later date).
Please note that you will be enrolled on the full MSc programme. You may choose to exit with the qualification of PgCert upon completion of an appropriate 60 credits, or a PgDip upon completion of an appropriate 120 credits. More information is contained within the programme specification.

Career opportunities

You’ll be able to apply for Band 8a roles, and work in stage 1, 2 and 3 intensive care units (ICUs) as an autonomous practitioner who is able to assess, diagnose and manage critically ill patients and prescribe independently.
On completion of the programme, you'll be able to apply for voluntary registration and associate membership of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine.
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