What is the difference between Advanced Practice and Advanced Clinical Practice?
You may see Advanced Practice or Advanced Clinical Practice used, these terms are interchangeable and ultimately mean the same thing when talking about a level of practice in which a practitioner has demonstrated their ability to work autonomously at Level 7 (Masters Level) across the four pillars of Advanced Practice (clinical practice, leadership, education, and research).
Can I be an Advanced Practice Dietitian?
As a Dietitian you are one of the healthcare professional groups that is able to undertake further training to become an Advanced Practitioner, alongside other AHPs including physiotherapists, pharmacists, paramedics, occupational therapists and podiatrists.
If you undertake the relevant Advanced Practice training and are employed in an Advanced Practitioner role you are a Dietitian who is qualified as an Advanced Practitioner, not an Advanced Practice Dietitian. This is because you will have met the four pillars of Advance Practice and be working outside of your Dietetic scope of practice (that you acquired via your undergraduate degree) and are working in an Advanced Practitioner role.
What is the difference between Extended Scope of Practice and Advanced Practice?
Extended scope of practice relates to a specific skill or knowledge that is acquired by the Dietitian, often to fill a gap in service delivery or to improve a service provision, for example a Dietitian who undertakes the required training, assessment and supervision to allow them to undertake a dysphagia assessment; placing NG tubes; changing balloon gastrostomies.
Dependent on the needs and skill gaps within the service, this with support from lead clinicians and the relevant business manager could potentially be developed into an Advanced Practice role. The clinician would need to undertaken further Level 7 (Master level) education to ensure that they qualified as an Advanced Practitioner and be working across the four pillars of Advanced Practice, for example, clinical lead for a service eg enteral feeding service; undertaking audit and evaluation to ensure the service meets client/patient needs; training others as relevant to ensure the efficient delivery of the service.
What’s the difference between First Contact Dietitian (also known as First Contact Practitioners) and Advanced Practice?
A First Contact Dietitian is a diagnostic clinician working in Primary Care at the top of their clinical scope of dietetic practice at Level 7 (Masters Level). They are able to assess and manage undifferentiated and undiagnosed presentations in Primary Care settings.
First Contact Dietitians may or may not reach working at an advanced level. Without further training, they won’t be working across all four pillars of practice. However, with additional training, First Contact Dietitians can build towards Advanced Practice. You should typically have five years post-preceptorship experience before starting primary care training to become an First Contact Dietitian. Learn more about First Contact Dietitians.
What are some of the different types of Advanced Practice roles dietitians have been involved in?
Learn more about the different types of roles, by reading our case studies!