Master of Nursing (with specialisations)
Charles Sturt University
Key Information
Campus location
Wagga Wagga, Australia
Languages
English
Study format
Distance Learning
Duration
18 months
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
AUD 31,200 / per year
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Are you ready to take your nursing career to the next level? Study with a university with more than 40 years of experience delivering nursing education. The Master of Nursing (with specialisations) from Charles Sturt University will provide you with a platform to build on your existing knowledge and experience – and specialise in an area that you’re passionate about: aged care, clinical education, leadership and management, research for clinical practice or rural and remote nursing.
Designed for registered nurses looking to upskill for advanced nursing practice, this postgraduate degree will enhance your critical thinking, decision-making and research-related skills for advanced nursing practice. Delivered 100 per cent online, you’ll experience the Charles Sturt difference – total flexibility – allowing you to complete your course in a timeframe that suits you.
Course highlights
Learn from future-focused academics
When you study with Charles Sturt, you’ll join a strong academic community. You’ll learn from and connect with industry leaders and experienced nursing academics, so you can build on your existing knowledge and skills.
Specialise in an area you’re passionate about
Choose from five industry-aligned specialisations: aged care, clinical education, leadership and management, research for clinical practice or rural and remote nursing. These specialisations give you the opportunity to explore an area related to your career, an area you’re passionate about or an area you’d like to move into.
Flexibility and support is given
As Australia’s most experienced online uni, we know what it takes to study online. Delivered 100 per cent online, this course gives you the option to fast-track your career as you continue to work. You’ll also get to experience small virtual class numbers, guaranteeing one-to-one support and direct access to your subject coordinators. You’ll choose to exit with a graduate certificate or graduate diploma, allowing you the flexibility to complete your study when it suits you and still receives a qualification. What's more, you could use the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Aged Care), Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Clinical Education), Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Leadership and Management) or Graduate Certificate in nursing (Rural and Remote Nursing) as a pathway into your master's.
Create a real-world impact
Interested in exploring postgraduate research opportunities? You can make a real and lasting difference with Charles Sturt. Our nursing academics are known for their research excellence in key subject areas, including regional and remote communities, and improving health outcomes. The new research specialisation means you can apply your research skills to improve practice – and create a real difference.
Admissions
Curriculum
Specializations
Aged Care
This specialisation is designed for nurses working in aged care as clinicians, as well as emerging or current leaders working in aged care settings. Advance your assessment skills with a focus on age-related changes and the needs of ageing groups. You’ll also further develop your capacity to plan and provide person-centred care that enhances your quality of life.
Clinical Education
This specialisation has been revised to meet industry demands and focuses on the knowledge and skills required for advanced nursing practice. You’ll develop your ability to plan, deliver and evaluate clinical education in a range of healthcare settings through a focus on adult and transformative learning principles.
Leadership and Management
Newly revitalised to meet industry needs, this specialisation has been created for clinicians, leaders and managers at all levels of healthcare with a focus on practice improvement and transformative leadership. Develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to be a successful nurse leader in the rapidly changing healthcare environment.
Research for Clinical Practice
Interested in developing your research skills so you can contribute and improve advanced nursing practice, and leadership? This specialisation is for you. You’ll increase your skills in critiquing research literature, understanding research methodologies, developing research questions, preparing a proposal, implementing a research project and reporting the findings. Upon completion, you can take your research further with entry into the Doctor of Philosophy at Charles Sturt University.
Rural and Remote Nursing
Closely developed with industry, the specialisation is the only one of its kind in New South Wales – and one of only two in Australia. Develop your capacity for safe and effective advanced nursing practice that meets the complex healthcare needs of people living in rural and remote communities. With a focus on primary healthcare, advanced assessment skills, emergency nursing care and quality improvement, you’ll graduate with the diverse skill set needed to make a real difference.
Subjects
For each 8-point subject you are enrolled in, you should expect to spend 10 to 12 hours per week working on assignments and assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, and attending lectures, residential schools, or examinations.
If you are studying four subjects per session, this is equivalent to a full-time job. The workload for some subjects may vary as a result of the approved course design.
The course consists of three core subjects (32 points), two compulsory subjects (24 points), and a choice of a specialisation in Aged Care Nursing, Rural and Remote Nursing, Leadership and Management, Clinical Education or Research for Clinical Practice. Students may also choose to graduate with a Master of Nursing (without specialisation) or to exit the course a Graduate Diploma of Nursing (with or without a specialisation) or a Graduate Certificate in Nursing (without specialisation).
Core Subjects
- Advanced Nursing Practice
- Practice Improvement Proposal
- Practice Improvement Project
Compulsory subjects
- Value-Based Healthcare and Critical Inquiry
- Critical Studies: Indigenous Australian Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities
Specialisations: Aged Care Nursing, Clinical Education, Leadership and Management, and Rural and Remote Nursing
In addition to the core and compulsory subjects (56 credit points), students complete the specialisation and restricted elective subjects according to the enrolment pattern for their chosen specialisation stream (40 credit points).
Research for Clinical Practice
Students completing this specialisation enrol in:
- Advanced Nursing Practice
- Practice Improvement Proposal
- Value-Based Healthcare and Critical Inquiry
- Critical Studies: Indigenous Australian Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities
- Science Honours Research Methods
- Science (Honours) Research Commencement
- Science Honours Research Dissertation
Graduation requirements
As a Charles Sturt University student, throughout your course, you have a responsibility to continue to develop skills in English language, literacy and numeracy as appropriate to your discipline. This ongoing development will enable you to effectively participate in your course and graduate prepared to enter the workforce.
To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 96 points.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
As a graduate, you'll be able to demonstrate a high level of skill and responsibility in clinical decision-making and provide advanced care in complex circumstances. You’ll collaborate with other health professionals as you work to improve health outcomes. . And you’ll influence all levels of care while promoting quality health outcomes for individuals, families, communities and healthcare systems through strong leadership and sound research. Utilise your critical-thinking skills and ability to apply evidence to practice, so you to transition into diverse and challenging nursing roles. These could include leadership and advanced nursing practise positions, including, clinical nurse specialist and nurse educator, clinical nurse consultant, and nurse manager.