Advanced practitioners - also known as advanced clinical practitioners, or ACPs - are healthcare professionals educated to master’s level, who have been trained to work autonomously across all four pillars of advanced practice: clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research.
ACPs come from a range of clinical backgrounds, including midwifery, nursing, orthoptics, optometry, paramedics, and physiotherapy. Their highly specialised knowledge and skill set allow them to take on expanded roles and make independent, clinical decisions to meet the needs of their patients.
James Taylor, a specialist nurse working at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, is one such advanced practitioner studying at the University. Training as an ACP has enabled James to take on a more senior position in the team, educating students and junior colleagues, whilst gaining a deeper understanding of his role.
He said: "Whilst I still possess the same, excellent experience, care, expertise, and compassion as a nurse, training as an ACP has altered my perspective on patient care and given me additional clinical knowledge and skills to improve practice in my field."
The University provides four different advanced practice programmes, allowing students to specialise in their area of expertise - all of which can be taken as standard or apprenticeship master's courses:
The Ophthalmology Advanced Clinical Practice (Paediatrics) course is the latest advanced practice programme to be launched by the University, in response to long waiting lists and large-scale staff shortages in ophthalmology clinics.
Emma Gilbert, one of the University’s first cohort of qualified paediatric ophthalmology ACPs, said the course has helped her made a positive impact in her clinic: “I am now able to autonomously diagnose and manage a range of paediatric patients. As such, numbers seen in our paediatric ophthalmology clinics have increased by 6 per clinic, meaning approximately 600 extra patients are seen each year. Patients and parents are experiencing streamlined care and better wait times, with reduced pressure on senior colleagues.”
With the UK Government's Ten Year Health Plan due in spring 2025, advanced practice is poised to play a pivotal role in the future of healthcare delivery. The plan is expected to place an increased focus on community care, digital technology, and preventative measures, making a multidisciplinary, autonomous workforce increasingly vital.
For Tracey Moore, Dean of the School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery at The University of Sheffield, harnessing and developing the talents of the current NHS workforce is a key part of The University of Sheffield’s vision.
Tracey said: “Building an NHS that is fit for the future is going to require a flexible workforce who can provide the right care to patients, at the right time, and in the right place. The answer to this lies not just in training the next generation of healthcare professionals, but also giving existing staff the opportunity to develop and work at an advanced level. This is something we’re incredibly passionate about at The University of Sheffield.
Sheffield alumni like Emma are proof of just how beneficial ACPs can be to a multidisciplinary team. Working at a higher level allows ACPs like Emma to safely manage patients from admission right through to discharge, improving the patient experience and enabling more people to be seen outside of hospital.
Tracey Moore
Dean of the School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery
"ACPs are also empowered to incorporate research into their clinical practice, which ultimately leads to both higher quality treatment and prevention.”