Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing Practice

Description

The Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing Practice (PCNP) provides you with the opportunity to extend your nursing knowledge and skills in an area of specialty nursing practice.

Enrolment in the PCNP is dependent on meeting the registration and clinical experience requirements outlined in the Admission requirements section. You must also be employed in your specialty area and have the support of your employer to facilitate completion of specialty clinical competencies.

As a graduate of the PCNP you will have:

•a sound understanding of the scientific knowledge and research based evidence that underpins skill development specific to a specialty area of nursing practice
•the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to understand the practice of providing care to individuals experiencing specific disturbances to health and well-being that require specialty nursing interventions
•critical inquiry skills relevant to a chosen specialty area of nursing practice
•the ability to communicate an understanding of the theoretical basis for practice both verbally and in a written form
•problem solving skills appropriate for delivery and evaluation of patient care as a specialty practice nurse
•life long learning skills that facilitate knowledge and skill development as a specialty practice nurse and the ability to undertake ongoing professional development in preparation for more advanced levels of specialty practice
•demonstrated clinical competencies in a workplace, assessed by clinical experts, at a beginning competency level as benchmarked against Australian specialty practice competencies

Requirements

Admission requirements for all specialty and advanced practice courses:

•a Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent training)
•at least one year of clinical experience as a registered Division 1, 3 or 4 nurse within the five years prior to applying for the course
•current unrestricted registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (formerly the Nurses Board of Victoria) in Division 1, 3 or 4 of the Register (courses with clinical components only)
•current employment and clinical support in your specialty area (courses with clinical components only)
•meet the University of Melbourne's English language requirements
If you are applying for the Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Practice or Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing Practice or a clinical specialisation in the Master of Advanced Nursing Practice, you must provide evidence of current clinical employment and support by submitting a completed Confirmation of Clinical Employment and Support Form with your application.


English language requirements
All applicants must meet the University's English language requirements. If English is not your first language, there are a number of ways of demonstrating that you have met this requirement. Details are available on the University of Melbourne Future Students website.

Please note that while the University requires an IELTS score of 6.5 (with no band less than 6.0), the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia requires a score of 7.0 (with no band less than 7.0) to register for unrestricted practice as a Registered Nurse.