1251 - Master of Nursing (IN)

This course, offered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery, prepares nurses for general and specialist practice roles in a range of clinical areas. The course enables development of advanced practice roles such as leadership skills to plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate health care as well as the ability to formulate policy for a diverse and multicultural society. Graduates are employed in a wide range of general and specialist clinical, educational and health care environments in senior positions and contribute to the health of individuals, families and communities, in addition to the development of the profession.

Assessment

Assessment includes exams, seminar presentations, field-based report, virtual classroom tutorial participation, literature reviews, assignments, skills assessment, computer conferencing and essays.

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

• develop advanced nursing practice roles within a dynamic health care environment
• employ creative approaches and skills to address complex nursing and health related issues
• support the development of evidence-based nursing interventions
• initiate, manage and sustain changes which positively affect health outcomes
• evaluate the impact of care delivery systems on health outcomes
• provide professional leadership and influence health and social policy processes
• contribute to the development of nursing knowledge and practice through education, research, scholarly debate, presentation and publication
• develop and apply advanced knowledge and skills in a selected area of specialist clinical nursing practice.

Students may undertake the course in one of three ways:

(i.) coursework units only

(ii.) a combination of 48 points of coursework units and a 24-point project involving research into an aspect of nursing which enhances nursing practice and patient care. Students submit a thesis which should be approximately 15,000 words in length and must meet the standards required for publication

(iii.) a combination of 36 points of coursework units and a 36-point minor thesis involving systematic research into an area of interest and value to nursing. Students submit a thesis which should be an original work of approximately 25,000 words in length and will lead to publication).

Students studying in Australia with local nursing registration may elect to commence their studies with a major clinical stream for the development of specialist skills and areas of clinical practice. Students wishing to study some clinical streams must have Victorian Nurses registration and approved employment in an affiliated hospital prior to commencement of study. Alternative and early exit options at graduate certificate and graduate diploma level are available for students who do not proceed with their studies beyond the development of these specialist skills. All students who elect to do the project or minor thesis option will be supervised in their research by a staff member from Monash University.

Courses of study are individually planned according to each student's career path plan. Students are encouraged to discuss a range of options with the course coordinator when constructing their individual program of study.

Major streams of study and clinical requirements are identified on the School of Nursing and Midwifery website at http://www.med.monash.edu.au/nursing/postgraduate/.

Thesis and project guidelines are available from the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Coursework units* may include:

Semester one

• GHS9841 Research methods and issues
• MPH2068 Financial issues in health care management
• NUR4901 Acute cardio-respiratory management
• NUR5215 Mental health concepts and practice
• NUR5703 Advanced pathophysiology and health assessment
• NUR6201 Gerontological nursing practice
• NUR9008 Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for mental health professionals
• NUR9201 Case management in health care
• NUR9202 Nursing informatics
• NUR9208 Therapeutic medication management
• NUR9214 Advanced therapeutic interaction in nursing
• NUR9842 Graduate nursing studies: caring in nursing

Semester two

• GHS9841 Research methods and issues
• GHS9850 Nursing practice and management
• MPD5001 Practice development methodologies and implementation
• MPH2067 Principles of health care quality improvement
• NUR4901 Acute cardio-respiratory management
• NUR4924 Critical care nursing
• NUR4925 Emergency nursing
• NUR4926 Advanced medical/surgical nursing practice
• NUR5215 Mental health nursing concepts and practice + NUR5227 Integrated mental health care
• NUR5227 Integrated mental health care
• NUR9204 Education in nursing and midwifery
• NUR9215 Advanced nursing practice in context
• NUR9844 Health promotion and education

* Some specialist units require concurrent clinical experience in approved clinical areas.

Students who complete this course and achieve a distinction (70 per cent) in the minor research thesis or project and the research methods unit (GHS9841) may qualify for admission into higher degrees by research (HDR) including the Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy, among others.

Alternative exit options at graduate certificate and graduate diploma level may be available.

Master of Nursing

Master of Nursing (Childrens)

Master of Nursing (Critical Care)

Master of Nursing (Emergency)

Master of Nursing (Education)

Master of Nursing (Gerontics)

Master of Nursing (Mental Health)

Master of Nursing (Palliative Care)

* Where more than one award is listed, or in the case of double degrees, where more than one award is listed for one or both components of the double degree, the actual award/s conferred may depend on units/majors/streams/specialisations studied, the level of academic merit achieved (eg in the case of 'with honours' programs), or other factors relevant to the individual student's program of study.