Master of Nursing

The course is of 96 points duration and is normally completed in three years of part-time study. Students undertake coursework in the specialised strand of their choice in the first year. In the second year, core subjects in the discipline of nursing and research methods in health science are completed. In the final year, students have three options. These are:

1. Four additional elective subjects
   or
2. Two additional elective subjects and a major project HLT508. The project provides the student with a range of opportunities (e.g. pilot study, small scale research replication, evaluation of a program/service, single case study report, course proposal, etc.)
   or
3. An original piece of research through the dissertation option HLT509. This would usually involve the student planning, implementing, and reporting an original piece of research.

Compulsory core subjects (32 points)

HLT505 Research Methods in Health Science A
HLT506 Health Master's Proposal
NRS510 Nursing as a Discipline
NRS520 Transcultural Nursing

Specialisations (32 points)

Students complete all four subjects in a single specialisation. Those students who then choose Option 2 or 3 in third year select their restricted electives from list provided below. These specialisations are:

Rural Nursing

HSM409 Epidemiology & Public Health
HLT401 Contexts of Health Promotion
NRS523 Rural Health Practice
NRS512 Perspectives of Mental Health Nursing

Management

HSM401 Perspectives on Health Care Systems
HSM402 Human Resources Management (Health Services)
HSM404 Management in Health Services
HSM512 Evaluating Health Services

Nursing Education

HLT402 Learning in Health Context
NRS513 The Nurse as a Health Teacher
HLT405 Issues in Clinical Education
NRS515 The Nurse as a Clinical Teacher

Mental Health Nursing

Option A

HLT512 Perspectives and policies in mental health (16 points)
NRS408 Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Nursing 1
NRS409 Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Nursing 2

Option B

NRS408 Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Nursing 1
NRS409 Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Nursing 2
NRS512 Perspectives in mental health nursing
plus ONE of
NRS516 Advanced Nursing Skills - The Therapeutic Relationship
NRS517 Advanced Nursing Skills - Group Process and Therapy

Chronic Care Nursing Practice

NRS420 Perspectives of Managing Chronic and Complex Conditions
NRS421 Chronic Care Nursing Practice 1
NRS422 Chronic Care Nursing Practice 2
PLUS one of:
NRS423 Advanced Chronic Care Nursing Practice
HLT401 Contexts of Health Promotion
NRS513 The Nurse as Health Teacher
NRS523 Rural Health Practice

Restricted elective subjects

Students who choose Option 2 or 3 in third year can select their restricted elective subjects from the list of subjects below:

GER401 Choices and Options in Later Life
GER402 Ageing bodies, Ageing Minds
GER501 Contemporary Issues in Gerontology
HLT401 Contexts of Health Promotion
HLT402 Learning in the Health Context
HLT403 Clinical Teaching Techniques
HLT404 Clinical Education Planning
HLT405 Issues in Clinical Education
HLT510 Clinical Issues in Health
HLT511 Clinical Judgement and Decision Making
HLT512 Perspectives and Policy Issues in Mental Health (16 points)
HSM401 Perspectives on Health Care Systems
HSM402 Human Resources Management (Health Services)
HSM404 Management in Health Services
HSM409 Epidemiology and Public Health
HSM512 Evaluating Health Services
NRS401 The Ecology of Child Health Care
NRS408 Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Nursing 1
NRS409 Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Nursing 2
NRS420 Perspectives of Managing Chronic and Complex Conditions
NRS421 Chronic Care Nursing Practice 1
NRS422 Chronic Care Nursing Practice 2
NRS423 Advanced Chronic Care Nursing Practice
NRS512 Perspectives of Mental Health Nursing
NRS513 The Nurse as a Health Teacher
NRS515 The Nurse as a Clinical Teacher
NRS516 Advanced Nursing Skills - The Therapeutic Relationship
NRS517 Advanced Nursing Skills - Group Process and Therapy
NRS523 Rural Health Practice

Students can seek approval from the course coordinator to choose other level 4 or 5 subjects.

In order for students to graduate with the specialisations listed below, students must complete:

• 32 points of coursework subjects in the specific specialist strand;
• and either a 16 point project or a 32 point dissertation on a topic relevant to the specialisation.

The current specialisations available are:

• Master of Nursing (Rural Health Nursing)
• Master of Nursing (Management)
• Master of Nursing (Nursing Education)
• Master of Nursing (Mental Health Nursing)
• Master of Nursing (Chronic Care Nursing Practice)

Students not meeting the specialisation requirements will graduate with a Master of Nursing.

Enrolment pattern

By part-time study

Year 1

Session 1 (30)

[ ] Specialisation subject
[ ] Specialisation subject

Session 2 (60)

[ ] Specialisation subject
[ ] Specialisation subject

Year 2

Session 3 (30)

HLT505 Research Methods in Health Science A
NRS510 Nursing as a Discipline 1

Session 4 (60)

HLT506 Health Master's Proposal
NRS520 Transcultural Nursing

Students may opt to exit at this point with the qualification Postgraduate Diploma of Nursing (with specialisations)

Year 3

Option 1

Session 5 (30)

HLT509 Health Master's Dissertation (32 points)(commenced)

Session 6 (60)

HLT509 Health Master's Dissertation (32 points)(completed)

Option 2

Session 5 (30)

HLT508 Health Master's Project (16 points)(commenced)
[ ] Restricted Elective

Session 6 (60)

HLT508 Health Master's Project (16 points)(completed)
[ ] Restricted Elective

Option 3

Session 5 (30)

[ ] Restricted Elective
[ ] Restricted Elective

Session 6 (60)

[ ] Restricted Elective
[ ] Restricted Elective

Articulation

The exit point only Graduate Diploma articulates with the Master degree.