• Continuing professional development (CPD)

History Taking and Physical Assessment

CPD Level 6
Location
How to apply
How to apply
Overview

Overview

This clinically focused, credit-bearing course, which is offered at both our West London and Reading campuses, provides healthcare practitioners with the advanced knowledge and skills required to conduct a systematic assessment of patients’ complex health and social care needs.

The course aims to give you the skills to conduct a patient consultation including taking a patient history, performing a physical examination, gathering clinical data, and accurately recording findings, guided by a consultation model.

You will learn to identify negative and positive findings, respond to clinical ‘red flags’ appropriately, and how to communicate clearly with professional colleagues.

Course requirements: 

  • Evidence of study at Level 5 (Diploma Level)
  • You should have a practice supervisor in place throughout the module. The practice supervisor should be an advanced clinical practitioner or doctor who can observe and support you in undertaking history-taking and physical assessment skills in a suitable clinical environment.

Cost and funding: This fee covers the full course cost.

  • Sept 24 - Aug 25 fees: £900
  • Sept 25 - Aug 26 fees: TBC

Credits: 20

Assessment method: Each of the assessment elements must be passed.

  • OSCE pass/fail
  • Case study 100%.

Future Intakes

Please note, applications for this course are currently closed. The details for the next course will be published shortly, at which point the course will be open to book.

A nurse talks to an elderly patient
Locations this course is taught at:
West London Campus
Berkshire Institute for Health
Study dates and times

Study dates and times

This course is taught on day release, select a start date to see the study days:

Study days are from 9am to 5pm. You must attend all six study days.

The course will focus on:

  • Taking a patient history, including the patient profile, chief complaint, history of present illness, past medical history, family medical history, social history and review of systems, using a consultation model
  • Demonstrating a systematic approach using skills of inspection, palpation, auscultation and percussion will be practised, examining each of the body systems
  • Conducting a systematic head-to-toe physical examination of all body systems, including skin, head and neck, eyes, ears, nose and throat, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, abdominal, lymphatic, and musculoskeletal systems
  • Recording clinical findings in a structured format, including the use of the SOAP note
  • Recognising and recording positive and negative findings and red flags 
  • Integrating an understanding of normal anatomy and physiology within the assessment of the adult patient, and also recognising key variations in altered physiology
  • Communicating with professional colleagues, including presenting a case verbally and in written documentation.
Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Pamela Arasen profile photo

Pamela Arasen

I started my career as a registered nurse after completing a Diploma in Nursing at St Bartholomew School of Nursing, City University in 2005. I spent a few years working in Acute Medical/Surgical wards and A&E, and continued my education pathway in a BSc in Cardiorespiratory Care, before moving to Critical Care at West Middlesex University Hospital. I specialised in the Critical Care Outreach Team at King’s College Hospital, after completing my MSc in Advanced Practice in Critical Care in 2015.

In 2018, I was appointed as a Lecturer Practitioner in Intensive Care at UWL teaching on the ITU course. I had a joint appointment at the London Northwest Healthcare Trust as the Lead in Education in Intensive Care Nursing, where I introduced the in-house Intensive Care Adult course with UWL partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the completion of the Academic Professional Apprenticeship,

I currently work as a Senior Lecturer in Advanced Clinical Practice and the Course Lead in the Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship (L7) and the MSc in ACP-direct entry (L7).

My special interests are Critical Care, Education and Career Development in Nursing.

I started my career as a registered nurse after completing a Diploma in Nursing at St Bartholomew School of Nursing, City University in 2005. I spent a few years working in Acute Medical/Surgical wards and A&E, and continued my education pathway in a BSc in Cardiorespiratory Care, before moving to Critical Care at West Middlesex University Hospital. I specialised in the Critical Care Outreach Team at King’s College Hospital, after completing my MSc in Advanced Practice in Critical Care in 2015.

In 2018, I was appointed as a Lecturer Practitioner in Intensive Care at UWL teaching on the ITU course. I had a joint appointment at the London Northwest Healthcare Trust as the Lead in Education in Intensive Care Nursing, where I introduced the in-house Intensive Care Adult course with UWL partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the completion of the Academic Professional Apprenticeship,

I currently work as a Senior Lecturer in Advanced Clinical Practice and the Course Lead in the Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship (L7) and the MSc in ACP-direct entry (L7).

My special interests are Critical Care, Education and Career Development in Nursing.

Study and career progression

Study and career progression

This course can be taken as a standalone module or the credits can be used towards one of the courses below:

  • BSc (Hons) Clinical Practice (badged awards available)
  • PgCert/PgDip/MSc Clinical Practice (first module in pathway can be studied at L6 - maximum of 20 credits).

The PgCert Clinical Practice (Independent and Supplementary Prescribing) may be of interest if you are considering going on to study the prescribing module at Level 7.

How to apply

How to apply

Applications currently closed

We recommend your application is submitted to the University at least two weeks prior to the start of the course.

After your application is accepted and you have been offered a place on the course, you will be sent information about how to enrol.  You must complete enrolment before your course starts.

Contact us

For more information about our CPD courses please get in touch with Dr Claire Anderson, Associate Dean (Berkshire), College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare:

Browse more CPD courses

A team of nurses

Find out more about Continuing Professional Development with the College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare and see the range of courses on offer.

Browse our CPD courses