Master of Nursing (Advanced Practice)

Description

Nursing practice continually evolves to correspond to continuing challenges in clinical practice, education, leadership, management, policy, economics, and legislation. How you react as a nurse, may depend on how well you are prepared to meet the challenges. If you are a registered nurse and wish to prepare yourself for leadership in nursing practice and education, then the Master of Nursing (Advanced Practice) program is for you. The focus is on clinical practice and the program allows for specialisation in selected areas of nursing, and in-depth study of a selected topic relevant to nursing practice. The program will enable you to practise at an advanced level and to tackle the challenges with knowledge, skills, and competence.

The program requires completion of 80 units and consists of prescribed nursing and elective courses. The program has a clinical practice focus and allows for specialisation in selected areas of nursing. Streams and areas of specialisation are available in acute care (including perioperative, nephrology, intensive care, emergency and surgical nursing – please note that this specialisation is not currently available to international students), older person nursing, mental health nursing; and child, youth and family nursing. You must complete the courses approved for each specialisation to ensure specialisation acknowledgement.

A number of the courses listed are offered in partnership with Hunter New England Area Health (including mental health and the Centre for Education and Nursing Research in Child Health [CENRiCH]).

Teaching is shared between academic staff and conjoint staff who are clinical experts within their speciality areas.

Requirements

Completed a Bachelor of Nursing degree or equivalent and evidence of one year full-time (or equivalent part-time) of advanced clinical practice in a broad area of practice.

Notes

The program is designed for registered nurses who wish to practise as clinical nurse specialists, clinical nurse consultants, or clinical nurse educators.

On completion of the Master of Nursing (Advanced Practice) degree, a graduate will be able to demonstrate:

competencies in advanced health assessment, prioritisation, complex problem solving, and therapeutic management within the scope of practice
ability to initiate and participate in organisational, social and cultural change
abilities in the core components of advanced clinical practice including reflection, communication, education, counselling, research, evaluation, quality improvement, administration and management in a practice context
ability to function both autonomously and collaboratively as an essential member of a multidisciplinary health care team
appreciation and valuing of cultural and intellectual diversity and ability to function in a multicultural and international environment.
The program will provide you with opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills required by the consumers and current health care system. Successful students will be well prepared to take leadership in clinical practice and education, and to work collaboratively with academics and researchers.