Credit bearing module Diagnostic Reasoning in Practice
Explore diagnostic reasoning in practice and develop knowledge to inform your understanding and professional practice.
Key facts
- Duration
- Part time: One semester
- Level
- Continuing professional development (CPD)
- Academic level
- 7
- Academic credits
- 20
- Course code
- CPD7003
- School
- Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery
- Application deadline
- 1 September (for a September start)
About this course
This Diagnostic Reasoning in Practice module is theory-based. It will enable you to critically appraise knowledge and evidence related to diagnostic tools used within practice. This knowledge will enable you to make efficient and effective decisions in relation to patients/clients healthcare needs and their management.
The main sciences will be applied to clinical practice and be developed using a problem based learning approach. This will involve you undertaking activities on the module Moodle site for each of the sciences.
This module requires on-campus attendance in alternate weeks on Wednesdays between 1-4pm.
This module is available to students on a postgraduate long award (PGC/PGD/MSc). Non Advanced Practice students must contact the Module Leader before adding it to their programme. Module is also available as a standalone to associate students, please check entry requirements for details.*
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
You must
- be a registered Health Care Professional
- have at least 2 years’ post registration experience
- be currently working in a clinical environment.
*Module is also available as a standalone to associate students, waiting to access an Advanced Practice long award, who have already completed a level 7 module in History Taking and Assessment.
Fees and funding
Fees
| Fee types | 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Home part-time | £1,000 per single module, where taken as part of an award-bearing course the module fee is £1,260 |
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page.
Questions about fees?
Learning and assessment
You will attend seminars in alternate weeks for ‘problem based learning’. During seminars you will engage in critical debate and exploration of a clinical case study related to one of the 5 main medical science subjects / diagnostic tools.
You will work in small groups to discuss action plans / solutions to the clinical dilemmas. You are expected to apply scientific knowledge when exploring the case scenario, and to determine the evidence-base underpinning the use of relevant diagnostic tools.
You will be supported to:
- develop skills in critical analysis and appraisal of theory and research evidence that underpins use of diagnostic tools / tests in clinical practice
- use online learning activities and directed reading to explore medical sciences, e.g. biochemistry, genetics, immunology, microbiology and haematology
- apply medical sciences knowledge and understanding when exploring clinical case studies using a problem-based learning approach
- utilise online learning resources to gain an introduction to interpretation of diagnostic tests, for example, abdominal and chest x-rays, and ECG recordings.
Assessment
100% coursework.
Essay: critically analyse and appraise the evidence base that underpins use of a diagnostic tool relevant to your area of clinical practice.
How to apply
Apply through our Moodle Portal.
If you wish to take this as a standalone module then you can apply to be a postgraduate associate student using our online application portal. You will need to register for the portal prior to proceeding with an application.
Our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, so module availability and course structures may vary from what is listed here. On rare occasions, we may also need to make updates to our course programmes after publication; for full details, please visit our changes to programmes page (opens in a new tab)