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This module is aimed at practitioners working in complex health, social care and 3rd sector environments, where advanced decision-making is essential. On this module, you will learn about advanced clinical decision-making to enable you to work effectively in an advanced role, within a dynamic healthcare environment. The role of Advanced Practitioner (AP) is recognised as an essential position within the modern health and social care system. Advanced practice encompasses the four principles of research, leadership, education and advanced clinical skills.
The module will enable you to develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of the processes involved in decision-making. It will increase your ability to make autonomous judgements in light of evidence and to do so safely, effectively and collaboratively. Expanding on your metacognition skills will allow you to formulate and justify clinical decisions, apply appropriate interventions and treatment plans within complex and dynamic clinical environments, always placing patients and service users at the centre of care. The module material allows flexibility and can be adapted to your chosen area of practice.
The content of this module will provide you with a ‘toolkit’ to help you identify and synthesize research evidence to underpin your decisions. The aim is to help you question your approach to decision-making in practice and to explore techniques to enhance decision-making. The areas covered in this module are:
Exploring the process of clinical decision-making and judgement and understanding the difference between decisions and judgments
The concept of error
The process of diagnosis
Clinical decision analysis and evidence-based decisions
Risk and dealing with uncertainty
Contextual factors influencing decision-making
Shared decision-making
Technology and decision-making

LO1: Critically explore the decision-making processes used in your area of practice that are underpinned by evidence, sound clinical judgment and ethical stance.
LO2: Offer a justification of the rational or non-rational processes used by you and others when making clinical decisions.
LO3: Effectively demonstrate advanced decision-making utilising a systematic approach.
LO4: Justify your clinical decisions by drawing upon theoretical principles, including team decision-making, and your practice experience.
LO5: Apply and evaluate decisions in light of their health outcomes, in view of risks, benefits, and alternatives and considering the principles of shared decision-making with the service users and clinical teams.