Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing

The course provides the opportunity for nurses to extend their understanding of the relationship between the theory and practice of nursing in a specific area of specialty nursing. Students develop a depth and complexity of knowledge that enhances their specialty nursing practice in a variety of contexts and nursing roles. There is an emphasis on academic preparation for leadership in specialty nursing, specialty nursing education and patient education. This course does not include clinical components.

The course leads to a generic Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (PDN) or a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (PDN) with a specialisation. The award of a specialisation is dependent on the program of study undertaken.

As a graduate of the PDN you will have:

• proficiency in areas of professional scholarship
• an understanding of the professional issues impacting upon specialty nursing and the wider nursing profession
• a beginning understanding of the international context and sensitivities of the specialty area
• a capacity to engage where appropriate with issues in contemporary society that impact on and are impacted by specialty nursing practice
• an appreciation of the ways in which evidence based practice guides specialty practice and how specialty knowledge equips the student to offer leadership in the specialty area
• an appreciation of the design, conduct and reporting of research as it relates to the development of evidence based practice
• a capacity to transfer knowledge and understanding of specialty nursing in oral and written presentations to a wide range of professional and non-professional audiences
• the ability to communicate an understanding of the theoretical basis for practice both verbally and in a written form

The PDN is comprised of 100 credit points of coursework subjects. You will complete a mandated evidence-based subject and a range of theory coursework subjects contributing to either a generic or specialisation award.

Course structures for the specialty areas can be found at the School of Nursing website: http://www.nursing.unimelb.edu.au/courses/SAP/pdn.html. Students enrolling in a specialisation may take up to 37.5 points of approved subjects offered outside the School of Nursing. Students enrolling in the generic program may take up to 25 points of approved subjects offered outside the School of Nursing.

Please visit the School of Nursing website for Admission Requirements: http://www.nursing.unimelb.edu.au/courses/SAP/admission.html