Master of Nursing

Course Code2094
Course duration /
Study mode

Course duration: One and a half years full-time (or part-time equivalent)*
Study mode: Distance education
*Currently this course is being offered on a part-time basis only.

LocationAvondale Campus - Sydney
Fee Support

FEE-HELP*

*for eligible students, see www.studyassist.gov.au

About


The Faculty of Arts, Nursing and Theology offers the Master of Nursing (MNurs) (by coursework) with optional exit points at Graduate Certificate in Nursing and Graduate Diploma in Nursing levels. In this course you can choose to develop nursing specialist qualifications in either Clinical Nursing, Clinical Teaching or Leadership and Management.

Major areas of study include:

  • Nursing research and evidence-based perspectives of practice
  • Lifestyle disease
  • Health promotion
  • Holistic assessment and caring
  • Counselling
  • Clinical teaching
  • Leadership and management approaches

Avondale has been providing excellence in Christian higher education since 1897. We are committed to providing education that prepares people to make a significant difference in the world.

Avondale’s Master of Nursing is designed to extend and deepen a registered nurse’s knowledge, skills and appreciation of advanced practice that takes into consideration professional, legal and ethical requirements.

This is done through in-depth study of current health care issues, nursing research and evidence based perspectives of practice, clinical teaching, leadership and management approaches, lifestyle disease and health promotion, counselling, holistic assessment, advanced therapeutic interventions and evaluation. The ability to function both autonomously and collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team is an essential element of this course.

Although units are offered via distance education, additional non-mandatory on-campus sessions can be organised to support learning needs.


Learning Outcomes


Upon successful completion of the Master of Nursing, graduates will be able to:
  • articulate the nexus between theory, contemporary practice and research and its application to nursing;
  • utilise critical reflection for self-improvement and improvement in the quality of client care;
  • apply, synthesise and evaluate advanced nursing knowledge within the context of complex health care environments;
  • demonstrate leadership skills and advanced problem solving approaches within the collaborative multidisciplinary health team, taking into consideration contemporary culturally diverse health care contexts;
  • demonstrate the effective use of high level communication including evolving technologies to disseminate knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences across local, regional and global contexts;
  • produce scholarly work from an inquiry-based approach that that reflects advanced understanding and the capacity to apply knowledge to practice;
  • apply advanced knowledge to contemporary nursing practice utilising autonomous, holistic and creative approaches, taking into consideration professional standards and culturally diverse contexts;
  • reflect on the delivery of quality service in a professional context to ensure promotion of safe ethical practice, that displays integrity, justice, dignity, and respect for others.

Career Opportunities


With a postgraduate qualification in nursing, graduate nurses can apply their professional interests, nursing knowledge and clinical skills to lead and shape the future of health care. Graduates leave equipped to work in a variety of roles including hospital and community clinical practice, leadership and management, research and clinical teaching.


Admission Criteria


GENERAL ADMISSION CRITERIA

To qualify for admission, you must have completed:

  • An Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 7 bachelor of nursing, bachelor of health science (in nursing), or equivalent from an accredited university or higher education provider; or
  • An Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 8 graduate certificate or diploma in nursing or equivalent from an accredited university or higher education provider; or
  • An overseas nursing qualification comparable to an Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 7 or higher

SPECIFIC ADMISSION CRITERIA

The following are the specific criteria for admission:

  • Current AHPRA authorisation to practice as a Registered Nurse; or
  • Authority to practice as a Registered Nurse in your own country; and
  • A minimum of one-year post-registration experience within the last five years

If you plan to study Clinical Teaching or Clinical Nursing specialties, you must be employed as a Registered Nurse in the clinical setting.

ADVANCED STANDING

Applicants with an Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 9 qualification (or higher) in a cognate area may be eligible for advanced standing (credit recognition). Refer to the Advanced Standing Policy for more information.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

The Master of Nursing is available to domestic students and international students studying outside of Australia. The course is unavailable to international students in Australia on a student visa.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency in one of the following ways:
  • Provide documentary evidence that your initial nursing qualification was conducted and assessed in English.
  • Provide documentary evidence of at least two years of tertiary study conducted and assessed in English in a recognised country^ and completed within the last two years.
  • Demonstrate English language proficiency by achieving a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 overall with no sub-band below 7.0
^Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or the United States of America

WORKING AS A NURSE IN NSW

You can apply for temporary nurse registration from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) if you wish to undertake supernumerary nursing practice in NSW.

For more information, visit http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/

Course Structure


The Master of Nursing is composed of 11 units (72 credit points) of study over 1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent.  The maximum duration allowed for the completion of this course is 5 years from commencement as per the study loads policy.

It consists of ten (10) units at 6 credit points each and one (1) unit at 12 credit points.

Students have three course options:

  1. Master of Nursing with a specialisation in Clinical Teaching
  2. Master of Nursing with a specialisation in Clinical Nursing
  3. Master of nursing with a specialisation in Leadership and Management

An exit option for a Graduate Diploma in Nursing or Graduate Certificate in Nursing is available in the Master of Nursing course in any specialisation.

All units listed below are worth 6 Credit Points unless otherwise stated.

Variation to this structure is subject to approval by the Academic Board.

Clinical Teaching Specialisation

The clinical teaching specialisation is made up of 5 core units and 6 specialty units which the student is required to complete.

Core Units

  • NUEB50800 Evidence-Based Practice
  • *NURS50100 Research Methods
  • NUHS50101 Spirituality and Health
  • NUTC55100 Therapeutic Communication
  • LAMC51100 Leadership and Organisation

Specialty

  • #NUCT58600 Clinical Teaching
  • #NUCT50400 Developing Practice in Clinical Teaching
  • LMLR50101 Lifestyle Medicine: Past, Present, Future
  • NURS56000 Promoting Health
  • NUAS55102 Applied Scholarship in Nursing
  • **NUMP55200 Major Project in Nursing (Year-long 12 Credit Points)

*Research Methods NURS50100 is a co-requisite for Major Project in Nursing NUMP55200
**Minimum of 36 credit points to be achieved before students can enrol in Major Project in Nursing NUMP55200
#Student is responsible for undertaking 120 hours of practical experience in this unit

The Course Convenor may substitute core and speciality units with other units available from the Master of Nursing unit options.

Clinical Nursing Specialisation

The clinical Nursing specialisation is made up of 5 core units and 6 specialty units that the student is required to complete.

Core Units

  • NUEB50800 Evidence-Based Practice
  • *NURS50100 Research Methods
  • NUHS50101 Spirituality and Health
  • NUTC55100 Therapeutic Communication
  • LAMC51100 Leadership and Organisation

Specialty

  • NUHC55400 Holistic Assessment and Caring
  • LMLR50104 Physiological Underpinnings of Chronic Disease
  • LMLR50101 Lifestyle Medicine: Past, Present, Future
  • NURS56000 Promoting Health
  • NUAS55102 Applied Scholarship in Nursing
  • **NUMP55200 Major Project in Nursing (Year-long 12 Credit Points)

*Research Methods NURS50100 is a co-requisite for Major Project in Nursing NUMP55200
**Minimum of 36 credit points to be achieved before student can enrol in Major Project in Nursing NUMP55200

The Course Convenor may substitute core speciality units with other units available from the Master of Nursing unit options.

Leadership and Management Specialisation

The Leadership and Management specialisation is made up of 5 core units and 6 specialty units that the student is required to complete.

Core Units

  • NUEB50800 Evidence-Based Practice
  • *NURS50100 Research Methods
  • NUHS50101 Spirituality and Health
  • NUTC55100 Therapeutic Communication
  • LAMC51100 Leadership and Organisation

Specialty

  • LAMC51400 Human Resource Management
  • LAMC51600 Organisational Processes and Change
  • LAMC52300 Strategic Planning for Leadership
  • LAMC52600 Accounting for Leaders
  • NUAS55102 Applied Scholarship in Nursing
  • **NUMP55200 Major Project in Nursing (Year-long 12 Credit Points)

*Research Methods NURS50100 is a co-requisite for Major Project in Nursing NUMP55200
**Minimum of 36 credit points to be achieved before student can enrol in Major Project in Nursing NUMP55200

The Course Convenor may substitute core and specialty units with other units available from the Master of Nursing unit options.

Nested Courses- Optional Exit Points for each Specialisation

  • Graduate Certificate in Nursing after completion of 24 credit points (4 units)
  • Graduate Diploma in Nursing after completion of 48 credit points (8 units)

Students can contact the Course Convenor for further details of the nested course requirements.


To find out more about any of the units listed here, copy the unit code and then search for that unit here.

Practical Experience


Students are required to be employed as a Registered Nurse in the clinical area for the MNurs (Clinical Nursing) and MNurs (Clinical Teaching).

Students are required to undertake 120 hours of experience in the units NUCT58600 Clinical Teaching and NUCT50500 Developing Practice in Clinical Teaching. Students must be able to work in a role that includes clinical education (e.g. facilitator to students, new staff, new graduate nurses or trainee/enrolled nurses).


Accreditation


This course is accredited under Avondale's self-accrediting authority and it is nationally registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency
(TEQSA).


Registration and Self-Disclosure


Must be a Registered Nurse in Australia (registered with AHPRA) or a Registered Nurse in your own country if an international student.


Where to get further information


Course Enquiries

Student Administration Services

Phone: +61 2 4980 2377
Email: [email protected]
Monday-Thursday, 9.00am-5pm
Friday, 9.00am-12.00noon

Fees

FEE-HELP is available for eligible students, see www.studyassist.gov.au.


View current information on tuition fees

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for Avondale students. View all scholarship information. http://www.avondale.edu.au/future-students/finance/scholarships/ 

Testimonials

"What I liked most was the program's flexibility. It allowed me to learn at my own pace and tailor-make subject requirements to suit my area of practice. This degree has allowed me to promote and implement nursing practice at an entirely new level."
Case Manager / Orthopaedics