The Cardiac 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 (6 months of which should be in relevant clinical area) 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

The specialisation aims to

  • facilitate development of specialised knowledge, skills and attributes for application in acute cardiac care 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 Cardiac 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 patient in an acute cardiac care setting
  • critique the evidence-based principles and practices in nursing that inform primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of cardiovascular disease
  • apply concepts and theories around recognition, response and management of the acute, complex and/or critically-ill deteriorating patient in the acute cardiac care setting
  • demonstrate knowledge of the cardiovascular system, diagnostics and nursing assessment through management and care of adults experiencing acute cardiovascular conditions

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 Cardiac 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 - Cardiac - Core topics

18 units comprising:

NURS8740  Foundations for Responding to Clinical Deterioration Across the Lifespan (4.5 units)
NURS8741  Professional Experience in Resuscitation Across the Lifespan (PEP) (4.5 units)
NURS8744  Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease (4.5 units)
NURS8745  Acute Cardiovascular Care (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)
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)
NURS8828  Contemporary Issues in Paediatric Nursing (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.