University of Sydney Handbooks - 2013 Archive

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Nurse Practitioner

Sydney Nursing School offers the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) course.

Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)

At the master's level, students will be able to perform as autonomous learners capable of integrating prior learning while exploring professional contexts and the sociopolitical climate. Students will also be able to advance their capacity for clinical judgement by engaging with the complexities of practice and discipline knowledge.

Course overview

The course consists of eight, six credit point theoretical units of study:

  • NURS5012 Assessment and Clinical Judgement
  • NURS5076 Pathophysiological Phenomena in Nursing
  • NURS5071 Strengthening Nursing Leadership
  • NURS5088 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice
  • NURS5089 Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
  • NURS5069 Research in Nursing and Health Care
  • NURS5077 Quality Use of Medicines in Practice

and one of the following specialty electives:

  • NURS5061 Expanding Clinical Nursing Practice
  • NURS5072 Expanding Cancer and Haematology Practice
  • NURS5074 Expanding Practice in the ICU and ED
  • NURS5075 Expanding Practice in Mental Health

Additionally, in the second year of study, students will undertake two 12 credit point practice-based units of study – NURS5079 Capstone (Professional Practice) and NURS5087 Developing Nurse Practitioner Capability, which collectively include 300 advanced clinical practice hours. Please refer to the unit of study table related to this program.

Workload

Students generally undertake three units of study per semester full time. Students studying part time will undertake two units of study per semester. In the final year, students will undertake two 12 credit point units of study. All units are offered in the intensive on-campus mode with students required to attend study days and undertake e-learning and independent study. Assessment consists of written assignments, clinical assessments and examinations.

Degree resolutions

 

Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)


These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Resolutions of the Faculty, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the University policy on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.

Course resolutions

1 Course codes

Code

Course title

GC067

Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)

2 Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for this course is full time or part time according to candidate choice.

3 Master's type

This master's degree is an advanced learning master's course, as defined by the Coursework Rule.

4 Admission to candidature

(1)
Available places will be offered to qualified applicants in the order in which complete applications are received, according to the following admission criteria.
(2)
Admission to this course requires applicants to be registered to practise nursing in an Australian state or territory and satisfy the English language proficiency requirements detailed in the faculty resolutions. In addition, applicants are required to nominate a Primary Clinical Supervisor for the purpose of undertaking clinical components of this course.
(3)
Admission to the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) requires:
(a)
a pre-registration nursing degree from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification with a credit average; or
(b)
a graduate diploma with a credit average in a nursing discipline from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification; and
(c)
a minimum of a graduate certificate in:
(i)  the area of clinical practice relevant to the Nurse Practitioner application; or
(ii)  another area, and be able to demonstrate advanced skills in the area of clinical practice relevant to the Nurse Practitioner application by portfolio and referee reports; and
(d)
a minimum of three years experience as a registered nurse, of which two years full time experience is in the area of practice relevant to the application and one of these years is at an advanced level.
(4)
Qualifications used as the basis of admission must have been completed less than ten years prior to application. Qualifications older than ten years will be considered subject to the applicant providing further information substantiating appropriate continuing education and development. In these cases, admission will be at the discretion of the Dean.

5 Requirements for award

(1)
The units of study that may be taken for the course are set out in the Units of Study table for the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner).
(2)
To qualify for the award of the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) a candidate must complete 72 credit points, including:
(a)
54 credit points of core units of study; and
(b)
six credit points of elective units of study; and
(c)
a 12 credit point capstone experience unit of study.
(3)
Candidates are required to attend clinical simulation and fieldwork as prescribed. Where appropriate, the faculty may require individual candidates to undertake further or remedial theoretical, clinical or practical study in addition to the above requirements.

6 Time limits

A candidate must complete all the requirements for the course within seven and a half calendar years of first enrolment, including periods of suspension.

7 Transitional provisions

(1)
These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2011 and students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January, 2011 who elect to proceed under these resolutions.
(2)
Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2011 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that requirements are completed by 1 January, 2016. The faculty may specify a later date for completion or specify alternative requirements for completion of candidatures that extend beyond this time.