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Curtin University
Courses Handbook 2011

This handbook contains information for courses and units at Curtin in 2011.
Information for current year courses and units is available at Courses Handbook 2010.

309608 v.2 Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)

MNurs(Curtin)

This course is not available to International Onshore Students on Student Visas

Introduction

This course aims to prepare registered nurses to function autonomously and collaboratively in the advanced and extended clinical role of nurse practitioner. The curriculum has a broad scope for relevance and utility, yet has a balance between generic and specific content designed to develop higher-level clinical knowledge and skills necessary for nurse practitioner practice. To facilitate Nurse Practitioner role development, the curriculum includes didactic, problem based learning opportunities, and clinical education through a preceptored clinical internship. The key elements of the curriculum are: professional accountability; clinical leadership; competence to practice; evidence-based practice; critical thinking; diagnostic reasoning; clinical decision making and the quality use of medicines. Integral to and incorporated throughout the curriculum is the concept of cultural security.

Course Entry Requirements/Prereq

Australian applicants: applicants must be Registered Nurses entered into Division One of their relevant State Nurses Board register and hold a Bachelor of Science (Nursing) or its equivalent. Registered nurses who do not hold a bachelor degree may gain entry to the course through an alternate mode of entry, which considers the applicant's current clinical and educational experience and professional development. Applicants must have completed a one-year graduate clinical practice program or its equivalent plus a minimum of two years full time equivalent practice in their selected clinical specialization. Formal preparation in the selected clinical specialization is highly desirable. International applicants must be registered nurses entered into Division One of the Nurses and Midwives Board and have a minimum of two years work experience.

Specific Requirements

Applicants for this course should refer to the Communicable Diseases and Criminal Record Screening and Clearance Section of this publication.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Applications for recognition of prior learning are assessed on an individual basis.

Duration and Availability

This fee-paying course is six semesters part-time study. Intake for the course is available each semester.

Course Organisation

This course is available in internal and external modes of study and is part-time only. Students are required to use the Internet to support their studies. The internship component (50 credits) of this course must be completed in an approved hospital and/or agencies. All students must successfully complete all units in the course prior to undertaking Health Project 691 and Health Project 692.

Professional Recognition

Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as Nurse Practitioner in Division One of the Nurses Board of Western Australia register and may apply for mutual recognition of registration in other Australian States where equivalency of specialization applies.

Career Opportunities

Graduates registered with the Nurses Board of Western Australia as Nurse Practitioner, will be eligible to practice in areas designated by the Western Australian Director General of Health.

Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks, readers and other essential study materials.

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.

Course Structure Hrs/Wk Credit
Year 1 Semester 1
307483 v.1   Professional Foundations 561 11.5 25.0
312195 v.1   Pharmacology 522 4.0 25.0
  50.0
Year 1 Semester 2
307484 v.1   Diagnostics 561 4.0 25.0
312169 v.1   Pharmacotherapeutics 524 3.0 25.0
  50.0
Year 2 Semester 1
311225 v.1   Clinical Leadership 561 3.0 25.0
4712 v.3   Qualitative Methods in Health Research 582 4.0 25.0
  OR  
13152 v.3   Health Research Methods 681 4.0 25.0
  OR  
301950 v.3   Research and Evaluation in International Health 600 8.0 25.0
  50.0
Year 2 Semester 2
307488 v.1   Nurse Practitioner Internship 562 20.7 50.0
  50.0
Year 3 Semester 1
310475 v.1   Health Project 691 20.0 50.0
  50.0
Year 3 Semester 2
310476 v.1   Health Project 692 20.0 50.0
  50.0

Availability

Year Location Period All* Internal Partially Online Internal^ External Fully Online#
2011 Bentley Campus Semester 1 Y        
2011 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.