What Is an Advanced Clinical Practitioner?

Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACP) can come from a variety of professional backgrounds, including Nursing, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Paramedics, and Occupational Therapy.

They are experienced healthcare professionals with a Master’s level award or equivalent who have developed their skills and knowledge to take on expanded roles and scopes of patient care.
It is often assumed that advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) are all from a nursing background, as the role of advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) is well known within our NHS. Many of us are now seen and treated by an ANP within our own GP surgery.

However, due to increased demand, the scope for the role has grown and developed, and the number of different professionals able to become Advanced Clinical Practitioners reflects this. In today’s modern health service, it is common to have a multidisciplinary team (MDT) of advanced clinical practitioners supporting the rest of the medical team.

Health Education England (HEE), along with its multi-disciplinary partners, defines Advanced Clinical Practice as follows:

“Advanced Clinical Practice is delivered by experienced, registered health and care practitioners. It is a level of practice characterized by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision-making. This is underpinned by a master’s level award or equivalent that encompasses the four pillars of clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research, with a demonstration of core capabilities and area-specific clinical competence.”

What Role Does an Advanced Clinical Practitioner Play?

Advanced clinical practitioners support clinical care providers in enhancing the capacity and capability of multi-professional teams. Their primary roles include improving clinical continuity and providing more patient-focused care. They also help provide safe, accessible, and high-quality patient care.

Published: Sep 23, 2024