The Paediatrics specialisation is offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and is completed as part of the Master of Nursing (Coursework and Specialisation).
This is to be read in conjunction with the course rule for the Master of Nursing (Coursework and Specialisation).
Admission requirements
Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification and must be registered nurses.
However, the Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.
In addition, applicants must have a minimum of one year post-registration experience and must provide a supporting statement from their employer stating their willingness to facilitate the extended clinical practice components of the course within their workplace and/or provide evidence that an affiliated health agency will facilitate the clinical practice in a supernumerary capacity.
This specialisation involves a Professional Experience Placement (PEP). Please check additional requirements on the School of Nursing & Midwifery PEP web pages.
Specialisation aims
- facilitate development of specialised knowledge, skills and attributes for application in paediatric nursing environments
- extend student knowledge in research for practice development
Learning outcomes
In addition to the Learning Outcomes of the Master of Nursing (Coursework and Specialisation), on completion of this course, students in the Paediatrics specialisation will be able to:
- critically analyse the concepts and theory around recognition, response and management of the acute, complex and/or critically-ill deteriorating paediatric patient in an acute care setting
- identify key concepts related to working with children and their families such as keeping children safe, growth and development, attachment theories and engaging with infants, children and families
- critique the socioeconomic, physiological and psychosocial issues facing the health and wellbeing of children, young people and their families in contemporary society
- apply the knowledge, skills and attributes required to practice at a beginning level in the
specialist area of paediatric nursing in a variety of clinical settings.
Program of study
Students choosing this specialisation undertake an 18 unit specialisation, 27 units of coursework and 9 units of option topics.
To qualify for the Master of Nursing (Coursework and Specialisation) with a Paediatrics specialisation, a student must complete 54 units with a grade of Pass or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study set out below.
Except with permission of the Faculty Board:
- no topic may be attempted more than twice;
- a student may not include a topic which repeats work previously undertaken;
The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion or in 9 units or more, or failure to complete the course within eight consecutive semesters may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purpose of the University''s Policy on Student Progress.
Not all elective topics will be available in any given year or semester.
Specialisation - Paediatrics - Core topics
18 units comprising:
NURS8740 Foundations for Responding to Clinical Deterioration Across the Lifespan (4.5 units)
NURS8824 Introduction to Working with Infants, Children and Families (4.5 units)
NURS8828 Contemporary Issues in Paediatric Nursing (4.5 units)
NURS8829 Paediatric Nursing Practice (PEP) (4.5 units)
Core - Coursework topics
plus 27 units comprising:
NURS9123 Epidemiology and Population Studies for Health Care Practice (4.5 units)
NURS9124 Advanced Thinking, Communicating and Problem Solving for Health Professionals (4.5 units)
NURS9126 Leadership in Health Studies (4.5 units)
NURS9219 Introduction to Research (4.5 units)
NURS9222 Capstone: Advancing Research Knowledge to Inform Healthcare Practice (9 unit)
Option - Year 1 & 2 topics
plus 9 units selected from:
NURS8742 Critical Care Nursing Theory (4.5 units)
NURS8744 Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease (4.5 units)
NURS8746 Managing High Acuity Surgical Care (4.5 units)
NURS8747 Managing High Acuity Medical Care (4.5 units)
NURS8751 Principles of Emergency Nursing (4.5 units)
NURS8760 Acute Mental Health Nursing Theory (4.5 units)
In consultation with the Course Coordinator, students may select as their option topic(s) other postgraduate topics offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, excluding Professional Experience Placement (PEP) topics.