313720 v.2 Master of Nursing Practice
MNursPract(Curtin)
Course CRICOS Code: 064467B
Registered full-time Duration for International Onshore Students on student visas:
2 Years
Course Overview
Master degrees (coursework) prepare students to apply advanced knowledge for professional practice, scholarship and further learning corresponding to AQF level 9 qualifications.
The Master of Nursing Practice is a two year (4 semesters) plus a summer term coursework program leading to eligibility for registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/. The course provides a comprehensive program of study involving a diverse range of simulated practice and fieldwork, inter-professional learning, contemporary blended learning and advanced clinical skill development. The course emphasises the close integration of evidence based theory and clinical practice. Theory content is comprehensive and includes the physical, biological, psychological and social sciences.
Professional Recognition
This course has been designed to meet the regulations of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Students who successfully complete the course requirements are eligible for recommendation by the Head of School to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for registration as Division 1 comprehensive registered nurses. Registration is subject to meeting all requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. To meet the registration requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia students are expected to complete the course within 5 years. Failure to complete the course in the allocated time period may necessitate undertaking additional units to ensure currency of practice.
Career Opportunities
Nurses remain in high demand globally and graduates find work throughout Australia and overseas. Upon graduation students can work as a beginning practitioner in a variety of healthcare contexts. The course has been designed to meet the standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) to enable initial registration as a nurse. In order for students to be eligible for registration with the NMBA as a registered nurse, they must complete this course within five years.
Additional Courses Expenses
Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks and other essential study materials and purchase a uniform for clinical practice. The mandatory health and legal requirements prior to course commencement and yearly manual handling training prior to clinical practice will incur a fee. See Health Sciences http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au/teaching/nursing-midwifery_checks.cfm website for details. Applicants will also need a reliable computer with basic requirements including internet access and browsing capability, and a word processing program. Once applicants have been accepted into a course Curtin provides students with a range of IT supports and services that can be located at http://students.curtin.edu.au/
Special Note
Application documentation required: Application for Admission to a Postgraduate Coursework Degree Form; certified copies of academic transcripts; essential supplementary information and a detailed Curriculum Vitae. On completion of this course, graduates will not be eligible for registration to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN), unless they have met the national registration standards. These include (but are not limited to): Assessment of graduates initial nursing qualification and registration; Criminal History Screening; English Language Proficiency; Assessment of any health, conduct or performance issues. For more information on the registration process or standards, please refer to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia: www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au
Course Entry and Completion Details
Applicants are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au. Subject to the duration of the course applicants usually require a bachelor degree or equivalent (and may require relevant work experience), bachelor honours degree, graduate certificate or graduate diploma.
All applicants must hold a recognised Bachelor’s degree or graduate degree with a high course weighted average (greater than 70 percent). It is essential that applicants have successfully completed a research unit and a human biology related unit at tertiary level. Domestic students who have not completed tertiary units in the above mentioned areas will be able to study these unit(s) through the Health Sciences Graduate Entry Foundation course. Curtin University requires all students to demonstrate competency in English. International students are required to demonstrate an IELTS of 7.0. Please refer to the following for further information http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/postgraduates/how-to-get-in/. Applicants will be required to have completed an application for postgraduate coursework degree form and provide certified copies of academic transcripts and detailed Curriculum Vitae. It is a condition of enrolment that applicants are screened for, and immunised against contracting a number of infectious illnesses prior to the commencement of the clinical program. Further information on Health Screening for students in the Faculty of Health Sciences can be obtained by visiting the website http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au/current_students/immunisation/. Screening and vaccination costs are the responsibility of the student.
Credit for Recognised Learning
Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Applications for credit of recognised learning are assessed on an individual basis, in accordance with University policy.
Pathway to Further Study
Graduates may qualify for entry to doctoral degrees. For further details, see the University website http://curtin.edu.au.
Course Entry/Completion Note
Mandatory requirements for clinical practice include Essential First Aid Certificate, a Department of Health Criminal Record Screening, a National Police Screen a Working with Children Check, and a manual handling certificate. It is expected that the student will maintain the currency of these requirements for the duration of the course. Certificates and screening costs are the responsibility of the student. Students must be available to undertake clinical practice during and/or outside semester in health care facilities. Clinical practice blocks can be several weeks in length and students should consider reduced income during that time.
Course Organisation
Master degrees (coursework) contain a series of units in a specialised area of study which may include compulsory (core), optional or elective units to cater for student preferences. They may also contain a range of majors/streams for students to choose from.
This graduate entry masters degree course emphasises the close integration of evidence based theory and clinical practice. Students’ theoretical learning is supported by extensive clinical practice under the guidance of registered nurses. Students will be involved in supervised practice by registered nurses when providing care of individuals/families/groups; all clinical practice is appropriate to the level of academic preparation.
Course Learning Outcomes
A graduate of this course can:
1. apply nursing knowledge within a framework of registered nursing practice with a commitment to evidence based practice; demonstrate a high level of clinical proficiency to ensure optimum individual patient outcomes
2. apply critical thinking and reflection to problem solving and clinical decision making for health improvement
3. critically analyse scientific literature and health standards; reflect on and synthesise complex information and integrate this into patient care
4. communicate effectively and establish collegial relationships with interprofessional teams
5. use appropriate technologies and make informed decisions on therapeutic interventions by utilising current technology to inform practice; proactively seek new information and technologies
6. recognise the values intrinsic to registered nurse practice; demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning through critical reflection and the ability to enhance the development of self and others
7. recognise, evaluate and apply appropriate international and national standards of practice within a local nursing and healthcare context
8. recognise the significance of cultural diversity in patient care; articulate and demonstrate respect for individuals’ rights to determine their own journey through healthcare
9. demonstrate a sound understanding of current nursing and health legislation which is relevant to the registered nurse role; work in an autonomous and accountable practice framework as a member of interprofessional teams; demonstrate leadership skills in an ethical and professional manner
Duration and Availability
The course is offered internally and taken over two years plus a summer term of full-time study or equivalent part-time. Australian citizens and permanent residents may have the choice of full-time or part-time study. International students studying in Australia on a student visa are required to undertake a full-time internal study load.
Location and delivery Mode
| Year | Location | Period | All* | Internal | Partially Online Internal^ | External | Fully Online# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Bentley Campus | Semester 2 | Y | ||||
| 2014 | Bentley Campus | Semester 2 | Y |
The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.
* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.
^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.
# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.
| Course Structure | Hrs/Wk | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Semester 2 | |||||
| 311294 | v.1 | Nursing Bioscience 561 | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| 313091 | v.2 | Nursing Professional Practice 561 | 177.0 | 25.0 | |
| 314912 | v.1 | Indigenous and Global Health 561 | 3.0 | 25.0 | |
| 313090 | v.2 | Inquiry for Nursing Practice 561 | 3.6 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 2 Semester 1 | |||||
| 311297 | v.1 | Nursing Bioscience 562 | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| 311298 | v.1 | Behavioural Responses to Illness 562 | 3.0 | 25.0 | |
| 311299 | v.2 | Nursing Professional Practice 562 | 8.0 | 25.0 | |
| 312115 | v.3 | Clinical Operational Management 562 | 3.6 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 2 Semester 2 | |||||
| 311301 | v.1 | Behavioural Perspectives of Mental Health 563 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| 311302 | v.1 | Nursing Bioscience 563 | 2.0 | 25.0 | |
| 301950 | v.4 | Research and Evaluation in International Health 600 | 8.0 | 25.0 | |
| 312437 | v.1 | Nursing Practice 565 | 286.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 3 Study Period 1 | |||||
| 309854 | v.2 | Mental Health Nursing Professional Practice 563 | 12.0 | 25.0 | |
| 25.0 | |||||
| Year 3 Semester 1 | |||||
| 314913 | v.1 | Practice Improvement Research Project 564 | 3.6 | 25.0 | |
| 311303 | v.2 | Nursing Professional Practice Capstone 564 | 50.0 | ||
| 75.0 | |||||
Further Information
For more information about the course, please contact the Faculty of Health Sciences on telephone (08) 9266 1000, email futurestudents@health.curtin.edu.au, or visit our website: http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au
Course Structure Disclaimer
Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within the normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.
Handbook Disclaimer
The online handbook is the repository of Curtin University of Technology (“Curtin”) course information. While Curtin makes all reasonable endeavors to keep its online courses handbook up-to-date, information within this website is subject to change from time to time. Curtin reserves the right to change the contents and/or the method of assessment, to change or alter tuition fees of any unit of study, to withdraw/any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/or to vary arrangements for any program without notification via the website.
For course overviews and enrolment information please visit our future students website.
