The Advanced Practitioner in Primary Care

Equipping Advanced Practitioners with the skills, insight, and confidence to lead in modern primary care The Advanced Practitioner in Primary Care is a timely resource that provides current and aspiring Advanced Practitioners (APs) with a practical roadmap for delivering high-quality, patient-centred care in complex and fast-paced primary care environments. Built on the four pillars of advanced practice—clinical practice, leadership, education, and research—this text supports practitioners in bridging the gap between academic theory and clinical application. Written by experienced clinicians and educators, this book is framed by national and international guidelines—applicable to adult, paediatric, and mental health contexts—and reinforced by real-world case studies that contextualise concepts and build confidence in managing diverse clinical scenarios. Providing the structured support and evidence-informed guidance necessary for confident, competent, and reflective practice, The Advanced Practitioner in Primary Care: Covers complex consultation skills, clinical reasoning, systems-based clinical assessments, and decision-making with evidence-informed guidance Addresses the management of uncertainty and diverse patient presentations, including frailty and paediatrics Offers practical insights on getting the most from supervision and professional development pathways Includes a dedicated chapter on prescribing and medication management tailored for APs Discusses the evolving scope of the AP role in the context of local, national, and international policy The Advanced Practitioner in Primary Care is essential reading for trainee and established APs working in primary care, as well as for nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and other professionals transitioning into general practice. It is also ideal for postgraduate programmes in advanced clinical practice and a valuable resource for educators and primary care teams supporting AP development.

Preface xxiii Acknowledgements xxv Unit 1 The ACP Role in Primary Care 1 Chapter 1 Scope of Practice and Role Within Primary Care 3 Chapter 2 How to Get the Most from Supervision in Primary Care 14 Chapter 3 Patient-centered Care 28 Chapter 4 Clinical Uncertainty 43 Unit 2 Leadership 53 Chapter 5 Leadership 55 Chapter 6 Research 68 Chapter 7 Education and Teaching in Primary Care 79 Unit 3 Consultation Skills 89 Chapter 8 Consultation Models 91 Chapter 9 Advanced Clinical Reasoning 105 Unit 4 Clinical Examination and Assessment 119 Chapter 10 History Taking in Primary Care 121 Chapter 11 Introduction to Clinical Examination in Primary Care 138 Chapter 12 The Respiratory System 156 Chapter 13 Cardiovascular Assessment 180 Chapter 14 Abdominal and an Overview of Genitourinary Assessment 197 Chapter 15 Neurology Assessment 225 Chapter 16 Musculoskeletal and Rheumatological Chapter 17 Ear, Nose, and Throat Examination 278 Chapter 18 Dermatology in Primary Care 294 Chapter 19 Pediatric Presentations in Primary Care 317 Chapter 20 Mental Health Presentations in Primary Care 339 Chapter 21 Frailty Assessment 357 Chapter 22 The Advanced Clinical Practitioner as a Prescriber 368 Chapter 23 Completing the Consultation and Developing as an Index 393