Courses Handbook 2007 - [ Archived ]

309608 v.1 Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)


MNurs(Curtin)

This course is pending registration for International Onshore Students on Student Visas. Please contact the Curtin International Office to determine availability for International students.

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 andspecific 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 decisionmaking and the quality use of medicines. Integral to and incorporated throughout the curriculum is the concept of cultural security.

Course Entry Requirements/Prerequisites

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 specialisation. Formal preparation in the selected clinical specialisation is highly desirable. International applicants must be registered nurses entered into DivisionOne of the Nurses Board of Western Australia (NBWA) register or other Australian State Nurses Board registers and hold a Bachelor of Science (Nursing) or its equivalent, have completed a one-year graduate clinical practice programor or its equivalent andplus a minimum of two years full-time equivalent practice in their selected clinical specialisation. Formal preparation in the selected clinical specialisation is highly desirable. Must meet English language competency requirements.

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 three semesters full-time or equivalent part-time study. Intake for the course is available each semester.

Intermediate Awards I

A student who has completed the requirements of an approved intermediate award may apply for graduation in that award subject to approval from the Head of School/Department. Fees apply. Intermediate awards approved for this course are:

Intermediate Awards II

Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner).

Course Organisation

This course is available in internal and external modes of study. 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. Studentsundertaking part time study will need to complete the other units listed in the first year of the program prior to undertaking the Nursing Project.

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 specialisation applies.

Career Opportunities

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

Additional Course Expenses

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

Course Structure

Hrs/Wk

Credit

Year 1 Semester 1
307483 v.1   Professional Foundations 561 12.5 25.0
307484 v.1   Diagnostics 561 4.0 25.0
307485 v.1   Pharmacology 521 3.0 25.0
5755 v.6   Managerial Effectiveness 571 3.0 25.0
  100.0

Year 1 Semester 2
307487 v.2   Pharmacotherapeutics 522 4.0 25.0
307488 v.1   Nurse Practitioner Internship 562 20.66 50.0
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
  100.0

Year 2 Semester 1
308410 v.1   Health Project 690 16.0 100.0
  OR  
310475 v.1 * Health Project 691 8.0 50.0
  OR  
310476 v.1 * Health Project 692 8.0 50.0
  100.0
* Both project units are selected in place of Health Project 690.
 

Availability

Year Location   All* Internal Partially Online Internal^ External Fully Online#
2007 Bentley Campus Semester 1 Y        
2007 Bentley Campus Semester 2 Y        
2007 Bentley Campus Study Period 1       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.



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