Career and Academic Pathway to becoming an ACP Mary Dawood Consultant Nurse Imperial College NHS trust

What is the academic and career pathway of the ACP? A long and challenging route where experience and experiential learning is essential and will be key to accomplishment and success in this role There are already well established successful ACP programmes in some parts of the country

Who can become an ACP?

Not just anybody! Initially Nurses and Paramedics In the longer term, other professions allied to medicine such as physiotherapists may be attracted to the role Minimum Requirement 5 Years post registration at least 3 of which should be in an emergency setting

Emergency Nurses Background Registered Nurses (since 2013 graduate profession) Emergency Nursing post graduate training (incl ALS,PALS,ATNC) Many will be experienced ENP’s Many will be registered with the NMC as non medical prescribers Some will already have MSc’s or be working towards All will be 5 years post registration with three of those years in Emergency settings

Paramedic Background BSc paramedic science programmes at Universities Courses tend to be modular and flexible, depending upon academic qualifications and any relevant experience. From two to five years, depending on whether full or part time. Training comprises both theory and practical clinical experience, including several weeks in various hospital departments. Much of the training of paramedics is carried out under the supervision of senior doctors.

Current Paramedics Motivated paramedics may also have undertaken further training in ALS/ATLS/ pre hospital care all of which call for well developed assessment skills Many HEI’s throughout the UK provide a range of continuing professional development programmes for paramedics including (MSc), and professional doctorates (PhD)

Master’s in Advanced Practice Variable between HEI,s but most are generic and do not include specific ED competencies. Typically they include Core Modules such as: Introduction to research methods and applied data analysis Critical approaches to advanced practice Dissertation (60 credits ).

Child and Adult specific modules Advanced physical assessment across the lifespan (30 credits) Critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning across the lifespan (30 credits) Independent and supplementary non-medical prescribing (30 credits) Pathophysiological principles for advanced practice (15 credits) Developing Complex Interventions (15 credits)

In addition to studying for an MSc in Advanced Practice, trainee ACP,s will follow the ACP curriculum having supervised practiced for 2-3 years in an emergency department with work based assessments. (WBA’s) Some of the WBA’s will be undertaken by an external consultant to ensure rigor and validity but most will be undertaken in the ED where the ACP trainee works. They will access the ACP ePortfolio as Practical Component

Costs of ACP education programme Not a cheap option! Courses circa £4000 PA x 3 years = £12,000 Trainees will need significant supernummary time for supervised practice and to learn without service pressures Back fill costs Consultant pa. time (significant) Study leave

Who pays? Health Education England is responsible for ensuring the security of supply of the local health and care workforce providing NHS funded services and supporting national workforce priorities Prior to the institution of HEE some funding came directly from Deanery’s and some from local education budgets /Trusts Some committed individuals have self funded Training programmes differ,some use Band6/7 but fully functioning ACP’s should be Band 8

Finally and most importantly ! ACP’s are not doctor substitutes ACP’S need time, support and endorsement to learn They should not be counted in the numbers They are not a homogenous group and will learn in different ways Remember ENP’s were considered an anathema to many 20 years ago but are now an essential part of the rich tapestry that is emergency /Urgent Care

References and information ACP Curriculum application form available RCEM To register for credentialing process contact