Nursing masters with a rural focus
Adaptability, accountability and a grasp on the issues of rural health are the watchwords of Charles Sturt Universityâs Masters offering for 2014.
Registered nurses who wish to link their existing skills to a rural-centric knowledge base can do so with the universityâs Master of Nursing or a Master of Clinical Nursing.
Course director Angela Bradley said the courses had been designed to be relevant to rural and remote communities. âOur focus is on preparing rural generalist nurse practitioners who have the broad expertise necessary to work in rural areas.â
âThe Master of Nursing has been reviewed to provide students with the opportunity to choose from three pathways: a specialty pathway, a professional pathway and a research pathway,â she said.
The course will offer specialisations in emergency, chronic and complex care, primary healthcare, mental health, and palliative care nursing. Students can choose to exit at the Graduate Certificate, or Graduate Diploma levels, or go on to complete the full Master of Nursing.
Graduate diplomas can extend studentâs expertise in evidence-based practice, emergency, high dependency nursing, child and family health nursing, palliative care, Indigenous health, mental health and aged care.
Students who opt for the professional pathway may take subjects in leadership and management, clinical education and policy development, or undertake a research pathway.
âRegistered nurses can tailor the course according to their own needs and areas of specialty practice,â Bradley said.
âExperienced registered nurses may also wish to extend their scope of practice and enroll in the newly-developed Master of Clinical Nursing (Nurse Practitioner), which is currently awaiting ANMAC approval,â she said.
This course will help students develop advanced knowledge and skills for research and professional practice, leading to a new scope of practice as a nurse practitioner.
âGraduates from this course will demonstrate an advanced and integrated knowledge in core subjects; evidence based practice, assessment, pharmacology, nursing specialty subjects, diagnostic reasoning, clinical and professional leadership and advanced professional practice.â
Students will be encouraged to work with academic mentors and professional supervisors to practise confidently and autonomously, while making expert judgements and being adaptable and accountable in leading advanced nursing practice.
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