Specialty and advanced practice
Programs for Registered Nurses
With an ageing population and higher patient acuity there is a greater demand for nurses to keep up to date with rapid changes in technology, procedures and research that inform current practice. We offer you a research-informed curriculum with a strong emphasis on the integration of theory and practice.
Our specialty areas
Our suite of postgraduate specialty and advanced practice coursework programs is available to registered nurses who want to take a lead in their chosen specialty area such as those listed below:
- Cancer and palliative care
- Critical care
- Emergency
- Mental health
- Paediatrics
- paediatric critical care
- primary care
- Rural critical care
Our multiple pathways
Because of the articulated structure of our specialty and advanced practice programs, you can enrol in the Master of Advanced Nursing Practice in your chosen specialty, or you can enrol in the certificate or diploma first and then complete additional studies to gain the 200 credit points required for your masters degree.
| Award | Credit points | Skill base |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Advanced Nursing Practice | 200 | Independent Practice |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Practice | 100 | Proficient Specialty Practice |
| Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing Practice | 50 | Introduction to Specialty Practice |
Specialty and advanced practice programs
Master of Advanced Nursing Practice
Masters-prepared nurses will assume a major responsibility in developing new professional roles, devising new models of care and overseeing dynamic changes to practice. As a graduate of the Master of Advanced Nursing Practice, you will be a clinically proficient and professionally articulate practitioner, equipped to make your mark on the profession and on health care. Your knowledge and skills will support culturally competent practice, leadership and advanced practice education in your chosen specialty.
Advanced standing
We recognise accredited postgraduate nursing studies for the purpose of granting credit for this degree. These include certificate or diploma courses from tertiary education institutions and accredited clinical training programs relevant to your chosen specialty. Each credit application is assessed on a case by case basis and is subject to approval.
Nurse Practitioner Endorsement
The Therapeutic Medication Management Education Program (TMMEP) is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia as preparation for Nurse Practitioner endorsement. This part-time, one-year program provides you with generic and specialist advanced practice knowledge and skills in health assessment, history taking, diagnostic interventions, referral and integration of care within multidisciplinary services, decision making and patient education. The subjects in this program can be taken as stand alone subjects through the Community Access Program or as part of the Master of Advanced Nursing Practice.
Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Practice
The Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Practice provides you with the opportunity to extend your nursing knowledge and skills into an area of specialty nursing. On completion of the diploma you will be able to demonstrate clinical competencies in a workplace environment assessed by clinical experts to be at a proficient level, as benchmarked against Australian specialty practice competencies.
We also offer a theory-only Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing for eligible applicants not wanting, or not able, to undertake the clinical components of the diploma.
Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing Practice
The Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing Practice has a clinical-practice focus that enhances your qualifications by developing your skills in a specialty area of nursing practice. It gives you a sound understanding of the scientific knowledge and research-based evidence that underpins skill development specific to a specialty area of nursing practice. On completion of the degree, you will have the clinical competencies to be at a beginning competency level, as benchmarked against Australian specialty practice competencies.