MSc Surgical Care Practitioner (Cardiothoracic Surgery)

This programme is also available as an Apprenticeship MSc Advanced Clinical Practice in Surgical Care. For further information on the apprenticeship route and details of how your employer can apply for you please visit our apprenticeship webpage.

• Programme overview

• Conduct a research investigation into a topic tailored to your own speciality and workplace.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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).

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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

  APP756E
  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.

  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.

  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.

  APP773
  Effective Promotion of Continence and Management of Incontinence

  The module aims to develop in the student an enquiring mind for leading and influencing change in bladder and bowel health. With subject specific knowledge and skill, students can promote high quality care within the clinical setting through dissemination of evidence-based information.

MSc ACP in Surgical Care programme specification 5830

To apply for this programme, you'll need:

A relevant degree with honours or an equivalent professional qualification. Other qualifications accompanied by substantial experience in an appropriate field may also be considered. Non-standard applications will be considered on a case by case basis.
You must be employed full-time in an appropriate role within a suitable hospital able to provide training with a UK setting, and you must have support of the clinical manager to undertake this programme of study whilst employed.

We are unable to take international students on this programme as they have to be in an employed position as a trainee surgical care practitioner.

Scholarships are available for postgraduate taught programmes. Tell me more about scholarships and bursaries.
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.

Applications need to be completed via the online form.

Any questions please contact:

Email: pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk
Professional Development Unit
4th floor, Rolle Building
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth, PL4 8AA
Tel: +44 1752 586951

After your application is received, 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).

If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by the University of Plymouth, please visit our Additional support for students with an impairment, health condition or disability webpage.