Course

Master of Nursing

Approved Abbreviation: MN

Western Sydney University Course Code: 4540.1

CRICOS Code: 044866G

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year in this course was 2002 to 2006.

The aim of the Master of Nursing course is to produce a graduate who can undertake leadership and mentoring roles, in multiple settings, facilitate research activity and participate significantly in management activities. The graduate will also be expected to be capable of abstract thought, critical analysis and the synthesis of ideas.

The course encourages critical examination of issues such as existing nursing knowledge, the evidence based perspective of practice, the measurement of outcomes and the consumer movement. Leadership skills and the study of the relationship between research, knowledge and practice are key components of the course.

Collaborative relationships and partnerships between nurses, multidisciplinary colleagues and stakeholders in the nursing care service are highly valued elements of the course. Students are challenged to conceptualise and articulate the unique contribution of nursing to health and health care settings, to ask difficult questions and actively seek their answers.

Study Mode
One year full-time or two years part-time. Students may exit with a Graduate Diploma in Nursing upon successful completion of six units (60 credit points) from the Masters award. This course is offered via Distance Education or on campus in Hong Kong only.

Advanced standing

Students who have successfully completed a Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Specialisation) from UWS will be eligible for advanced standing for four units offered in the Masters program. Advanced standing will also be given to applicants with Graduate Diploma awards from other universities but these will be individually assessed.

Students with only a Graduate Certificate in Nursing will enter the Master of Nursing course on successful completion of a Graduate Diploma in Nursing.

Students with only a Bachelor of Nursing award will not normally be considered for advanced standing. They have the option to enrol in the Graduate Certificate (Specialisation) courses or, having gained one year’s clinical experience, may enrol in the Master of Nursing course.

Accreditation
While the Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW (NMB) and the NSW Nurses' Association encourage nurses to pursue appropriate postgraduate educational opportunities, professional certification or registration of nurses with this award is not required.

Admission

Candidature for admission to the Master of Nursing is based on the following requirements:

registration as a nurse under List A of the Register of the Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW or equivalent; or eligibility for same.

at least one year full-time experience in nursing practice

possession of a Graduate Diploma in nursing

possession of a Bachelor of Nursing, a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) or equivalent qualification (as approved by the School of Nursing Family and Community Health)

Candidates who do not satisfy the academic requirements but who meet the other requirements for entry may be admitted to the course on provisional entry. The requirements of provisional entry require candidates to satisfactorily complete and pass all first semester units. Failure to meet these requirements will result in exclusion from the course.

International registered nurses who;