Master of Advanced Health Care Practice - 2018

The course will equip health care practitioners with the knowledge and skills to progress into advanced health care practice roles within their professional discipline. The course provides pathway options in clinical practice, clinical leadership, applied clinical research and clinical education. It also provides health professionals with an academic framework within which to develop a range of advanced problem-solving and critical thinking skills to achieve best practice health outcomes for patients and clients.

Specialisations

Clinical midwifery

This specialisation is designed to prepare experienced registered (in their country of origin) midwives for senior management, education and professional and specialist leadership roles in a range of midwifery settings. Note: This is the only specialisation currently offered to international student visa holders to study on campus in Australia.

Medical imaging

This specialisation is designed for radiographers and nuclear medicine technologists keen to assume advanced practice roles in advanced modality-based imaging, clinical leadership and education. The specialisation will provide opportunities to either complete a research project or study a variety of topics including advanced CT, MRI, image interpretation, patient assessment, hybrid and molecular imaging, data management and health informatics, clinical leadership and education.

Occupational therapy

This specialisation is designed for occupational therapists to deepen their knowledge and practice in advancing human occupation, health and wellbeing, to develop knowledge and skills for leading the management, design and delivery of health and community programs, and to undertake a program of study designed to develop advanced occupational therapy practice roles, such as in hand therapy, using adaptive and assistive technology, or addressing the needs of children with disabilities and their families.

Paediatric physiotherapy

This specialisation is designed for physiotherapists with an interest in developing advanced practice roles within the sub-speciality of paediatrics including neonates, infants and those with particular needs.

Primary health care

This specialisation is designed for those working within inter-professional primary health care teams. A research project in an area of interest can be undertaken.

Radiation therapy

This specialisation is designed for radiation therapists keen to assume advanced practice roles in radiation therapy planning and treatment. The specialisation will provide opportunities to either complete a research project or study a variety of topics including patient care and assessment, palliative care, the management of radiation-induced side-effects, international and local radiation therapy service provision, radiation therapy imaging, radiation therapy for breast cancer, clinical leadership and education.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that students will be able to:

1. practice ethically, respectfully and collaboratively within legislative and professional boundaries at advanced levels of practice
2. demonstrate mastery of a discipline specific body of knowledge and a range of research-informed skills which supports advanced practice
3. design and justify advanced research-informed health care interventions for a range of patients and clients including primary, community and rural health care settings.
4. evaluate the effectiveness of complex health care interventions using quantitative and qualitative research tools
5. apply critical thinking skills to the implementation of appropriate communication strategies both within the workplace and beyond that will influence and support advanced practice
6. demonstrate effective and strategic research, problem-solving, organisational and teamwork skills that reflect advanced practice
7. empower patients, clients and carers to become knowing and willing partners in the health care intervention
8. implement culturally competent clinical practice, leadership, supervision and or management roles with the relevant health care setting
9. initiate new or innovative approaches to the delivery of health care that are research-informed
10. effectively implement and critically evaluate technological advancements in health care to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes.

Students who have studied before but have not been granted block credit may be eligible for credit for prior studies.

The course is structured in two parts: Part A. Foundations for advanced health care practice and Part B. Advanced specialist study. All students complete Part B. Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A.

Note that if you are eligible for credit for prior studies, you may elect not to receive the credit and complete the higher credit-point option.

Part A. Foundations for advanced health care practice

In this part you will have the opportunity to complete scholarly practical studies that develop and expand your expertise within your area of specialist practice. Students admitted to the course may be eligible to receive credit for this part.

Part B. Advanced specialist study

This study will provide you with specialist professional knowledge and advanced skills in research or advanced professional practice in your chosen specialisation. Specialisations offer the choice of either a coursework focus or a research focus. The research focus provides a pathway to a higher degree by research.

The course comprises 72 points structured into two parts: Part A. Foundations for advanced health care practice (24 points) and Part B. Advanced specialist study (48 points).

• Students admitted at entry level 1 complete 72 points, comprising Part A and Part B.
• Students admitted at entry level 2 complete 48 points, comprising Part B.

Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete the higher credit-point option.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2018handbooks/maps/map-m6001.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are 12 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Foundations for advanced health care practice (24 points)

Clinical midwifery

Students complete 24 points from:

• MPH5268 Financial issues in health care management (6 points)
• NUR5112Not offered in 2018 Nursing practice in the Australian healthcare context*
• NUR5209 Education program development
• NUR5214 Advanced therapeutic interaction in nursing
• NUR5327 Management and leadership of professional nursing practice
• SRH5001 Research methods for health (6 points)
• SRH5032 Applied research for health practitioners (6 points)

* AusAid international students.

Medical imaging

Students complete 24 points from*:

• RAD4500 Multislice CT and evidence based practice (6 points)
• RAD4502 Principles of general radiography image interpretation (6 points)
• RAD4503 MRI Physics, instrumentation and safety (6 points)
• RAD4504 Musculo-skeletal MRI (6 points)
• RAD4505 MRI Head, spine, abdomen and pelvis (6 points)
• RAD4506 MRI Advanced imaging techniques (6 points)
• SRH5000Not offered in 2018 Health and health care planning for communities (6 points)
• SRH5001 Research methods in health (6 points)
• SRH5032 Applied research for health practitioners (6 points)

*Students need to consult with the course coordinator before enrolling in units

Occupational therapy

Students complete 24 points from any of the following groups of units:

Occupational therapy and occupation theory practice:

• Up to 12 points of other relevant occupational therapy related postgraduate units as approved by the course coordinator

Health education and promotion:

• NUR5204 Education in health care practice
• NUR5209 Education program development
• NUR5844 Health promotion and education
• SRH5000Not offered in 2018 Health and health care planning for communities (6 points)

Research methods:

• SRH5001 Research methods in health (6 points)
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research

Health systems management:

• ECC5970 Introduction to health economics (6 points)
• MPH5266 clinical leadership and management (6 points)
• MPH5268 Financial issues in healthcare management (6 points)
• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics

Leadership and quality improvement:

• MPH5266 clinical leadership and management (6 points)
• MPH5267 Principles of healthcare quality improvement (6 points)

Paediatric physiotherapy

Students complete 24 points from:

• NUR5204 Education in health care practice
• NUR5209 Education program development
• NUR5844 Health promotion and education
• PTY5103 Principles of paediatric physiotherapy (6 points)
• SRH5000Not offered in 2018 Health and health care planning for communities (6 points)
• SRH5001 Research methods in health (6 points)
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research

Primary health care

Students complete 24 points from any of the following groups of units:

Health education and promotion:

• NUR5204 Education in health care practice
• NUR5209 Education program development
• NUR5844 Health promotion and education
• PTY5105 Advanced paediatric clinical skills and project *
• SRH5000Not offered in 2018 Health and health care planning for communities (6 points)

Health systems management:

• ECC5970 Introduction to health economics (6 points)
• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics
• MPH5266 clinical leadership and management (6 points)
• MPH5268 Financial issues in healthcare management (6 points)

Leadership and quality improvement:

• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management (6 points)
• MPH5267 Principles of healthcare quality improvement (6 points)

* Only available to physiotherapists, approval from the course coordinator is required.

Radiation therapy

Students complete:

• RTP4101 Professional issues in radiation therapy 1 (6 points)
• RTP4102 Professional issues in radiation therapy 2 (6 points)
• RTP4103 Specialised techniques in radiation therapy (6 points)

and one unit from:

• SRH5000Not offered in 2018 Health and health care planning for communities (6 points)
• SRH5001 Research methods in health (6 points)
• SRH5032 Applied research for health practitioners (6 points)

Part B. Advanced specialist study (48 points)

Students complete either a. the research stream or b. the coursework stream as detailed below. Note: Students enrolled in the primary health care specialisation must complete the research stream.

a. Research

Students complete either Option 1 - Minor thesis or Option 2 - Research project.

Note: Research topics will focus on the relevant specialisation.

Option 1 - Minor thesis

Students complete:

• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research*
• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice
• MAP5001 Preparatory minor thesis
• MAP5002 Minor thesis

* Students enrolled in the clinical midwifery specialisation replace SRH5003 with GHS5841.

Option 2 - Research project

Students complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice and research
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research*
• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice
• MAP5010 Advanced health practice research project

* Students enrolled in the clinical midwifery specialisation replace SRH5003 with GHS5841.

b. Coursework

Clinical midwifery

Students complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice and research
• MID5005 Advancing midwifery practice
• NUR5204 Education in health care practice

and 12 points from the following:

• NUR5209 Education program development
• NUR5325 Clinical leadership in nursing (6 points)
• NUR5326 Quality, safety and clinical governance in nursing and health care management (6 points)

Medical imaging practice

Students complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice and research

and complete 24 to 36 points from the following:

• RAD5105 Pathology for advanced medical imaging practice (6 points)
• RAD5106 Medical imaging data management and health informatics (6 points)
• RAD5107 Hybrid and molecular imaging (6 points)
• RAD5108 Advanced general radiography image interpretation 1
• RAD5109 Advanced general radiography image interpretation 2 (6 points)
• RAD5110 Advanced CT and clinical decision-making 1
• RAD5111 Advanced CT and clinical decision-making 2 (6 points)
• RAD5112 Advanced MRI and clinical decision-making 1
• RAD5113 Advanced MRI and clinical decision-making 2 (6 points)

and up to 12 points from the following:

• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management (6 points)
• MPH5267 Principles of healthcare quality improvement (6 points)
• MPH5286Not offered in 2018 Applying and practicing the principles of patient safety and quality improvement (6 points)
• NUR5204 Education in health care practice
• NUR5209 Education program development

Occupational therapy

Students complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice and research

and 36 points from any of the following groups of units:

Occupational therapy and occupation theory practice:

• Up to 12 points of other relevant occupational therapy related postgraduate units as approved by the course coordinator

Health education and promotion:

• NUR5204 Education in health care practice
• NUR5209 Education program development
• NUR5844 Health promotion and education
• SRH5000Not offered in 2018 Health and health care planning for communities (6 points)

Research methods:

• SRH5001 Research methods in health (6 points)
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research

Health systems management:

• ECC5970 Introduction to health economics (6 points)
• MPH5266 clinical leadership and management (6 points)
• MPH5268 Financial issues in healthcare management (6 points)
• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics

Leadership and quality improvement:

• MPH5266 clinical leadership and management (6 points)
• MPH5267 Principles of healthcare quality improvement (6 points)

Paediatric physiotherapy

Students complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice and research
• PTY5105 Advanced paediatric clinical skills and project

and 24 points from the following units:

• PTY5100 Enhancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy (6 points)
• PTY5101 Advancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy: Cerebral palsy (6 points)
• PTY5102 Advancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy: Neonates and infants (6 points)
• PTY5104 Advancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy: Complex and chronic conditions (6 points)
• up to 6 points of other relevant health-related postgraduate units as approved by the course coordinator

Radiation therapy

Students complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice and research
• RTP5102 Current issues in radiation therapy and oncology

and 24 points from any of the following groups of units:

Health systems management:

• ECC5970 Introduction to health economics (6 points)
• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics (6 points)
• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management (6 points)
• MPH5268 Financial issues in healthcare management (6 points)

Leadership and quality improvement:

• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management (6 points)
• MPH5267 Principles of healthcare quality improvement (6 points)
• MPH5286Not offered in 2018 Applying and practicing the principles of patient safety and quality improvement (6 points)
• NUR5203Not offered in 2018 Inter professional health practice (6 points)

Education practice:

• NUR5204 Education in health care practice
• NUR5209 Education program development

Radiation therapy practice:

• NUR5203Not offered in 2018 Palliative care practice
• NUR5214 Advanced therapeutic interaction in nursing
• RTP5101 Patient care and assessment in RT
• RTP5103Not offered in 2018 Contemporary approaches to radiation therapy of the breast
• RTP5104 Advanced imaging for radiation therapy

Primary health care

There is no coursework option for this specialisation. See research pathway above.

Students may exit this course early and apply to graduate with the following award, provided they have satisfied the requirements indicated for that award during their enrolment in this master's course:

• Graduate Certificate in Advanced Health Care Practice after successful completion of 24 points of study at Monash with a minimum of 18 credit points at level 4 or above.

The research stream may provide a pathway to a higher degree by research.