This module aims will enable students to develop autonomous ability to request and interpret a range of investigations and diagnostic tests in the clinical setting.

Module Summary

This module aims to provide Advanced Clinical Practitioners with the capability to request, perform and interpret a variety of clinical investigations and diagnostic tests.  It will involve patient presentations from across the lifespan, covering a variety of undifferentiated conditions.

The learner will be required to combine history and pathophysiology knowledge to request appropriate investigations. They will be able to interpret common investigations with a structured approach to inform their management plan and differential diagnosis.

Content

This 20-week course will utilise in-person lectures, pre-recorded sessions and case-based discussion forums to put theory into practice, so that learning is contextual and clinically relevant.  Assessment is made up of an exam, using short answer and multiple choice questions, and a clinical portfolio evidencing development in the clinical setting.

The following topics will be covered:  

• Making appropriate investigation requests covering a variety of presentations
• Interpretation of clinical investigations and diagnostic tests using a structured approach
• Performing appropriate investigations and diagnostic tests relevant to the scope of practice.
• Acting on investigation findings formulating a management plan.
• Communicating findings with colleagues, patients and service users.
• 12-lead ECG interpretation.
• Enhanced understanding of x-rays, microbiology, virology, haematology, biochemistry & blood gas’.
• Introduction to point of care ultrasound and other imaging modalities.
• Indications, contraindications, limitations, and benefits of investigations.
• Develop and evidence the underpinning, subject-specific competencies for investigations and diagnostic tests relevant to the role, setting and scope of each practitioner.
• Use expertise and decision-making skills to inform clinical reasoning approaches when dealing with differentiated and undifferentiated individual presentations and complex situations, synthesising information from multiple sources to make appropriate, evidence-based judgements and/or diagnoses.

Teaching

This module runs once every other week for 20 weeks:

Start Month: January 2026 (Terms 2 & 3)

Teaching: w/c 12.01.2026 - 19/06/2026 (Thursday)

Student Vacation: 23/03/2026 - 10/04/2026

Start Month: April 2026 (Terms 3 & 4)

Teaching: w/c 13.04.2026 - 11/09/2026 (Wednesday)

Student Vacation: 22/06/2026 - 06/07/2026

Assessment

20-credit module / Level 7

Faculty

The module lead is Senior Lecturer Judy Scott-Langley, supported by the ACP faculty and guest lecturers