School of Nursing and Midwifery

Postgraduate Credit Developing History Taking and Physical Assessment for the Adult Patient/Client

Postgraduate Credit Part-time 10 weeks

This module is designed to introduce you to and develop your existing skills in the process of consultation, history taking, and physical health assessment of an adult. You will develop the necessary knowledge, skills and techniques required to conduct an effective and holistic systematic health assessment which may identify differential diagnoses to support a more detailed investigation, further referral or lead to a confirmed diagnosis and clinical management plan for your patient/client.

This module is designed to introduce you to and develop your existing skills in the process of consultation, history taking, and physical health assessment of an adult. You will develop the necessary knowledge, skills and techniques required to conduct an effective and holistic systematic health assessment which may identify differential diagnoses to support a more detailed investigation, further referral or lead to a confirmed diagnosis and clinical management plan for your patient/client.

Award
Postgraduate Credit
Start date(s)
28 April 2026,11 January 2027
UCAS Code
Course specifications
Course length
Part-time (10 weeks)
Campus location
University: Walsall Campus,University: City Campus
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

This theoretical module is designed to introduce you to and further develop, your skills in consultation, history taking and adult physical health assessment. You will explore the principles and processes that underpin systematic, holistic assessment and critically analyse the information gathered through the consultation.

As part of the module assessment, you will synthesise information from a patient's history and physical assessment and utilise appropriate evidence to inform your clinical reasoning. You will utilise this analysis to formulate an evidence based clinical management plan that reflects your scope of practice and demonstrates safe, person-centred decision‑making.

Please note: this course is not an Advanced Practice module; it is a developing‑skills theoretical module only. This 10-week module does not contribute towards an Advanced Clinical Practitioner qualification. 

What happens on the course?

This course is currently subject to revalidation in February 2027.

This is a theoretical module that is delivered at postgraduate level. During the 10-week module you will study different body systems and the recommended method for assessing patients.


The module is designed by a variety of clinicians and academic staff with different expertise to ensure the module provides comprehensive learning. The module will be delivered via a combination of in person sessions on campus (which will include clinical practice sessions), live online sessions and self-directed learning. Learning materials to help guide your study are available via our online learning platform.


The module is assessed through an academic presentation of a case study relevant to your own area of practice.As a theoretical module there are no compulsory practice-based assessments, however it is expected that you will continue to practise, contextualise, and consolidate the learning in your clinical setting after completion of the module.

Students are required to have current health professional registration (NMC, HCPC) and evidence of successful completion of level 6 study.

Placements on the course

Placements are not offered on this course.

Employability on the course

Our courses are designed from day one to prepare you for your future career. You will benefit from:

  • Structured learning pathways: courses are crafted with a focus on preparing students for future careers
  • Industry-informed modules: course content is kept up-to-date with industry standards through our industry links, staff's research and work in the field

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

The module will help you develop your consultation, history taking and physical assessment skills. You will learn to critically evaluate information to enhance your clinical decision-making and integrate information to inform your clinical management plans.

The module can be studied independently as a standalone module as part of CPD provision.

The module is often studied as a precursor to the independent prescribing qualification (V300)*and is part of some postgraduate courses such as PG Certificate Non-Medical Prescribing, PG Certificate Specialist Community Nursing and MSc Professional Practice in Healthcare.

Starting Jan (City) May (Walsall) September (Walsall)
Module Leader: Carla Youssef (c.youssef2@wlv.ac.uk)

Location Mode Sep intake Fee May intake Fee Year
Home Part-time £1050 per year £1050 per year 2025-26
Home Part-time £1050 per year N/A 2025-26

These fees relate to new entrants only for the academic year indicated for entry onto the course, any subsequent years of study may be subject to an annual increase, usually in line with inflation.

To access Developing History Taking and Physical Assessment for the Adult Patient/Client - Stand Alone Module.

  • yYou must be a registered healthcare professional (Registered Nurse/Midwife/Paramedic/Physiotherapist) with evidence of the ability to study at academic level 7.
  • You must evidence successful completion of BA/BSc or other relevant level 6 study
  • You will be in a role which requires you to undertake and report on the outcome of the physical assessment of your patient.
  • Postgraduate Loyalty Discount:

    You can get 20% discount on a taught postgraduate course if you’re a University of Wolverhampton Graduate.

    The University offers a generous 20% Loyalty Discount to students progressing from an undergraduate programme to a taught postgraduate on-site programme, where both courses are University of Wolverhampton Awards.

    There is no time limit on how long ago you completed your degree as long as this is your first Masters level qualification.

    The discount applies to the first year of enrolment only. Students who receive a loyalty discount are not entitled to any further tuition discount or bursary. For full terms and conditions click here.


    Self-funded:

    If you are paying for the fees yourself then the fees can be paid in 3 instalments: November, January and April. More information can be found by clicking here.


    Sponsored - Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

    Your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

    We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


    Financial Hardship:

    Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


    Charitable Funding:

    You might also want to explore the possibility of funding from charitable trusts. Please contact Association of Charitable Foundations, Directory of Social Change or Family Aid. Most charities and trust funds offer limited bursaries targeted to specific groups of students so you will need to research whether any of them are relevant to your situation.

    You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

    Telephone

    01902 32 22 22

    Email

    enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

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