M6031 Master of Advanced Clinical Nursing

The course is structured in two parts: Part A Specialist nursing practice studies, Part B Research and advanced scholarly practice.

PART A. Specialist nursing practice studies

These studies provide options for registered nurses seeking leadership roles to take a clinical specialisation appropriate for individual career aspirations. The studies draw on best practices within the nursing specialisations for the development of advanced knowledge and skills.

PART B. Research and advanced scholarly practice

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. You have two options:

• a 24 or 36 credit point research program. If you wish to use this master's course as a pathway to a graduate research degree you should take this option.
• a program of coursework study where you select the units to suit your own interests.

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at Entry level 1 you complete 72 credit points
• If you are admitted at Entry level 2 you complete 48 credit points

Note: Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A or Part B or a combination of the two. Credit is usually awarded for specialty or elective units and will be assessed individually. If you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit and complete the higher credit-point option.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 72 points structured into two parts: Part A. Specialist nursing practice studies, and Part B. Research and advanced scholarly practice.

Units are 12 points unless otherwise stated.

PART A. Specialist nursing practice studies (24 or 36 points)

You must complete:

Cardiac nursing (24 points)

• NUR5300 Foundations of cardiac nursing
• NUR5310 Advanced cardiac nursing (6 points)
• NUR5320 Cardiothoracic nursing or NUR5321 Coronary care nursing or NUR5322 Interventional cardiology nursing (6 points)

Emergency nursing (24 points)

• NUR5925 Emergency nursing 1
• NUR5926 Emergency nursing 2 

Intensive care nursing (24 points)

• NUR5923 Intensive care nursing 1
• NUR5924 Intensive care nursing 2 

Mental health nursing (36 points)

• NUR5228 Theories and philosophies of mental health nursing (6 points)
• NUR5229 Contemporary issues and controversies in mental health nursing (6 points)
• NUR5215 Mental health nursing concepts and practice
• NUR5008 Contemporary psychotherapies for nurses or NUR5227 Integrated mental health care 

Master of Nurse Practitioner (36 points)

• NUR5208 Therapeutic medication management (prescribing)
• NUR5218 Advanced clinical decision making
• NUR5411 Advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic reasoning
• NUR5600 Nurse practitioner essentials (0 points) 

Perioperative nursing (24 points)

• NUR5710 Perioperative nursing 1 (12 points)
• NUR5711 Perioperative nursing 2 (12 points)

Medical surgical nursing (24 points)

• NUR5703 Pathophysiology for advanced clinical nursing (6 points)
• NUR5708 Medical surgical nursing practice (12 points)
• NUR5325 Clinical Leadership in nursing (6 points)

Paediatric nursing (24 points)

• NUR5704 Pathophysiology for advanced paediatric nursing (6 points)
• NUR5709 Paediatric nursing practice (12 points)
• NUR5325 Clinical Leadership in nursing (6 points)

PART B. Research and advanced scholarly practice

You must complete:

• GHS5841 research and evidence for practice

You must complete either a. the research stream or b. the coursework stream as detailed below.

Note: If you are completing the nurse practitioner specialisation you must complete the coursework stream.

a. Research (24 or 36 points)

You must complete either Option 1 - Minor thesis or Option 2 - Research project 

Option 1 - Minor thesis (36 points) (not available to mental health specialisation)

You must complete:

• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice
• MAP5001 Preparatory minor thesis
• MAP5002 Minor thesis

Option 2 - Research project (24 points plus 12 points elective where required)

You must complete:

• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice
• MAP5010 Advanced health practice research project
• 12 points of elective units (except for students completing the mental health specialisation)

b. Coursework (24 or 36 points)

If you are in the following specialisations you must complete additional elective units to take the total to 72 points:

• Cardiac nursing - 36 points of electives
• Emergency nursing - 36 points of electives
• Intensive care nursing - 36 points of electives
• Mental health nursing - 24 points of electives
• Nurse practitioner - 24 points of electives
• Perioperative nursing - 36 points of electives
• Medical surgical nursing - 36 points of electives
• Paediatric nursing - 36 points of electives

Elective list

• NUR5202 Nursing informatics
• NUR5204 Education in health care practice
• NUR5208 Therapeutic medication management
• NUR5209 Education program development
• NUR5210 Disaster and emergency nursing management
• NUR5212 Nurse leadership in disaster (6 points)
• NUR5325 Clinical leadership in nursing (6 points)
• NUR5326 Leading improvement and innovation in the quality and safety of nursing and health care (6 points)
• MPH5268 Financial issues in health care management (6 points)
• NUR5327 Management and Leadership of professional nursing practice
• NUR5703 Pathophysiology for advanced clinical nursing
• NUR5704 Pathophysiology for advanced paediatric clinical nursing
• NUR5833 Refugee health and wellbeing
• NUR5844 Health promotion and education
• NUR5850 Working cross culturally in contemporary health care (6 points)
• NUR5860 Health education theory and practice (6 points) 
• NUR5870 End of life care in nursing contexts (6 points)
• MAP4200 Improving indigenous equity in professional practice (6 points)