Course summary

This course is for clinical nurse practitioners who want to develop their specialist skills and education in cancer care. The postgraduate diploma is designed to support those working at a senior level in preparation to prescribe treatments and work more independently.

You will need:

• a recognised health-related professional qualification and current professional registration
• a relevant honours degree – if you do not hold this qualification, please contact us for advice
• at least two years' full-time experience, or the equivalent in part-time hours, working in health or social care
• two years' post-qualifying experience working with cancer patients and their carers
• competency in written and spoken English (IELTS 7.0 or equivalent)
• specific requirements and entry criteria apply to some modules

Before beginning an application for any of our Advanced Clinical Practice modules or programmes you need to download the following document and work your way through it.  The completed forms will need to be uploaded along with your professional qualification certificate(s) and your application will not be considered without them:

 Since taking the course, I have been able to apply my new skills on a daily basis and assess my patients in a much more thorough way. I am more confident in my clinical practice as a result

What will I learn?

This is a very practical course that directly translates into better care for your patients. The ‘hands-on’ training will build on your existing skills, while the optional modules allow you to study different professional and clinical subjects that you’re interested in.

The advanced practice course includes:

• physical assessment and examination
• clinical reasoning
• early and effective cancer diagnosis
• prescribing
• complex care planning
• critical analysis of structured history taking
• the evidence base for practice
• clinical leadership

Students tell us they particularly enjoy practising on each other to better understand anatomy and physiology. We also use the simulation lab to practise different scenarios and emergency situations, followed up with staff feedback, to help build confidence.

Small classes sizes (up to 18 people) mean our expert lecturer practitioners spend more time with students, offering greater support. Our relationship with The Royal Marsden means you’ll be also taught by working clinical specialists, so the course covers the most up-to-date treatments and research in current cancer care.

The Postgraduate diploma is awarded by the University of East Anglia. You can choose to build on your diploma and convert it into an MSc by completing a dissertation. 

How much does it cost?

Costs vary depending on which optional modules you decide to take. The flexible nature of the course means it cannot be paid for as a whole pathway, so please purchase the individual modules you would like to study during an academic pathway. Module fees may increase in the following academic years.

You can apply for modules on the programme on a stand-alone basis. If successful these will be added to your programme when you enrol.

When is the next course?

We are only taking new applications for this programme if they are funded and approved by Health Education England by 1 July 2021.We are working to validate new programmes to start in September 2022. Otherwise, you can undertake some modules on a stand-alone basis and transfer the credit into a programme later.  Please contact us if you need advice: school@rmh.nhs.uk

Modules

Year one 

• Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning – (30 credits)
• Critical Reflection in Clinical Practice
• Optional module 1 

Year two

• Research Analysis and Application
• Advanced Clinical Assessment
• Independent and Supplementary Prescribing

Optional Modules

• Acute Cancer Practice
• Cancer as a Long-Term Condition
• Deconstructing Contemporary Practice
• Enhancing Clinical Leadership -currently unavailable
• Palliative Care and Symptom Management
• Principles of Breast Cancer Care
• Principles of Gynaecological Cancer Care
• Principles of Haemato-Oncology Care 
• Principles of Head and Neck Cancer Care
• Principles of Lung Cancer Care
• Principles of Metastatic Breast Cancer Care
• Principles in Systemic Anticancer Therapy
• Psycho-Social Impact of Cancer -currently unavailable
• Stem Cell Transplantation
• Work-Based Learning