Master of Advanced Nursing Practice (Nurse Practitioner)

The Master of Advanced Nursing Practice (Nurse Practitioner) is an accredited course by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. It is offered over 2 years part time. Upon completion of the program students will be eligible for entry on the Australian Health Practitioner Register as an endorsed Nurse Practitioner.

On completion of the Master of Advanced Nursing Practice (NP) the student will have achieved the following learning outcomes.

• Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of relevant research literature related to a chosen specialty field of Advanced Nursing Practice.
• The ability to analyse key social and political influences on the delivery of specialist and Advanced Practice Nursing service/s;
• The knowledge and skills required to explore and evaluate the status of (and potential for) Advanced Nursing Practice in national and international contexts;
• Knowledge and skills to support extension to practice and the development of therapeutic and evidence-based nursing interventions in specialty and Advanced Nursing Practice;
• The skills required to develop, implement and undertake new and innovative practices within established legislative and professional boundaries;
• Knowledge and skills to support culturally competent practice, leadership and/or education relevant to specialty and Advanced Nursing Practice

The Master of Advanced Nursing Practice (NP) prepares graduates to be clinically proficient, professionally articulate and ready to assume a major responsibility in developing new professional roles, devising new models of care and overseeing dynamic changes to practice.

Nurse Practitioner Pathway

In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed either:

• a Master of Nursing Science; or
• a Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent qualification);

and

• current general registration as a Registered Nurse with no conditions on registration relating to unsatisfactory professional performance or unprofessional conduct; and
• at least five years of clinical experience as a Registered Nurse including at least three years in specialty practice and one year in an advanced practice nursing role, within the preceding six years from the time of application; and
• a postgraduate qualification in nursing practice, or equivalent;
• documentation of employer support and multidisciplinary mentorship arrangement necessary to undertake extensions to practice in the workplace or related agencies by way of completion of Confirmation_of_Employment_and_Clinical_Support_Form

In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
• prior academic performance; and
• the professional experience.

The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The Melbourne Experience enables our graduates to become:

Academically excellent

• have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship
• have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s)
• reach a high level of achievement in writing, generic research activities, problemsolving and communication
• be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning
• be adept at learning in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies

Knowledgeable across disciplines

• examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines
• expand their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects
• have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems
• have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment

Leaders in communities

• initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces
• have excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills, including an awareness of personal strengths and limitations
• mentor future generations of learners
• engage in meaningful public discourse, with a profound awareness of community needs

Attuned to cultural diversity

• value different cultures
• be well-informed citizens able to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work
• have an understanding of the social and cultural diversity in our community
• respect indigenous knowledge, cultures and values

Active global citizens

• accept social and civic responsibilities
• be advocates for improving the sustainability of the environment
• have a broad global understanding, with a high regard for human rights, equity and ethics

At the completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate:
• the capacity for information seeking, retrieval and evaluation;
• critical thinking and analytical skills;
• an openness to new ideas;
• the ability to communicate scientific knowledge through oral, written and web based media.
• professional leadership skills.