Prior to 31 December 2015

The Master of Nursing (Coursework and Clinical) pathway is a 54-unit program offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold a nursing degree or an equivalent qualification approved by the Faculty Board, and be registered general nurses, and hold a current practising certificate and have at least two years'' post-registration nursing experience.

However, the Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

International applicants undertaking a specialisation which requires them to be registered general nurses must meet the eligibility requirements for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), and be registered with the Board prior to commencing the course.

The Clinical Nursing specialisation requires international applicants to be currently registered in their country of residence. They therefore do not have to be eligible to register with the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia to undertake this specialisation. Clinical Nursing specialisation students will not become eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) upon completion of the course.

Applicants for the Critical Care Nursing, Emergency Nursing must also have a minimum of 6 months experience in a relevant clinical area.

In addition, applicants for the Critical Care and the Emergency Nursing specialisations must complete and submit the required documentation, which can be downloaded at http://www.flinders.edu.au/nursing/professional-experience-placements/postgraduate-programs.cfm

Course aims

The aims of the course are to provide advanced studies in nursing and prepare nurses to contribute to the present and future development of health care services and the nursing profession. 

Learning outcomes

Graduates of this course are expected to be able to:

  • influence and improve the nature and quality of nursing practice
  • provide leadership and exert a positive influence on the health of the community
  • advance nursing knowledge and practice research
  • demonstrate specialist nursing skills and competencies
  • analyse and critique their practice through application of principles of critical reflection and evidence-based nursing practice
  • analyse and critique delivery of specialist nursing care in the current health care context.

Program of study

To qualify for the Master of Nursing (Coursework and Clinical), 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.

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 four consecutive years may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purpose of the University''s Policy on Student Progress.

A student who fails the clinical component of any topic will receive a Fail (F) grade for the entire topic. 

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 program must be completed full-time within three consecutive semesters or part-time within eight consecutive semesters.

Not all topics and specialisations are available in any given year.

Not all elective topics will be available in any given year or semester.

Students in the Master of Nursing (Coursework and Clinical) undertake 27 units of core topics (including a 9 unit nursing practice project), an 18 unit specialisation and 9 units of elective topics.

Core topics

27 units comprising *

 NURS9120  Evidence-based Clinical Practice  (4.5 units)
 NURS9125  Population Health  (4.5 units)
 NURS9126  Leadership in Health Studies  (4.5 units)
 NURS9602  Practice Project in Nursing or Midwifery ## (9 units)
 NURS9621  Epidemiology for Nurses and Midwives  (4.5 units)

* Students in the Child and Family Health Nursing specialisation need to complete 18 units of the core topics and will not undertake NURS9602.

## Enrolment in NURS9602 must be approved by the Course Coordinator and will depend upon the presentation of an acceptable research proposal and the availability of appropriate supervision.

Specialisations

plus one 18 unit specialisation from the list below: 

** Students in the Child and Family Health Nursing need to complete 31.5 units of the specialisation topics.

Elective topics

plus 9 units selected from the following ***

 NURS8612  Clinical Specialty: Negotiated Study  (9 units)
 NURS8706  Contexts of Continence Across the Life Span  (4.5 units)
 NURS8708  Continence Nursing – Evidence for Practice  (4.5 units)
 NURS8709  Continence Nursing through a Primary Health Care Approach  (4.5 units)
 NURS8730  Diabetes Management  (4.5 units)
 NURS8731  Diabetes Health Promotion  (4.5 units)
 NURS8732  Diabetes Practicum  (4.5 units)
 NURS8733  Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes Management  (4.5 units)
 NURS8821  Health Maintenance for Infants, Children and Young People  (4.5 units)
 NURS8822  Primary Health Care for Child and Family Health Nursing  (4.5 units)
 NURS8824  Introduction to Working with Infants, Children and Families  (4.5 units)
 NURS9014  Independent Study  (9 units)
 NURS9518  Independent Study  (4.5 units)
 NURS9707  Policy and Political Context of Health and Ageing  (4.5 units)
 NURS9708  Social Context of Health and Ageing  (4.5 units)
 NURS9709  Advanced Nursing Assessment  (4.5 units)
 NURS9710  The 3 Ds Dementia, Delirium and Depression  (4.5 units)
 NURS9711  Advanced Communication  (4.5 units)

*** Students in the Child and Family Health Nursing specialisation need to complete 4.5 units of the elective topics.

Students may, in consultation with the Course Coordinator, select other postgraduate topics offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences as their elective.