Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)

Course code: GC059
Course coordinator: Dr Tom Buckley

Choosing a master's degree | Applying for a master's degree | List of accompanying documents | Master's degree with honours | Cost of a master's degree | Recognition of prior learning | Admission requirements | Primary Clinical Supervisor | References | Advanced practice | Study patterns

Sydney Nursing School offers a flexible range of postgraduate advanced learning courses in several specialty areas. our nurse practitioner program meets a growing need for advanced practice nurses.

Download Nurse Practitioner brochure

Choosing a degree in the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)

You can either study full time (2 years) or the part-time equivalent at the master's level. The course has a total of 72 credit points (following the completion of a graduate certificate). All 6 credit point units have four on-campus study days. Study days are offered at the Mallett Street Campus.

The Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) requires students to have completed a graduate certificate in their chosen speciality, have a minimum of three years as a registered nurse, with a minimum of 2 years practice in a speciality area and a minimum of one year advanced practice experience prior to commencement of the course.

The course consists of eight 6 credit point theoretical units of study, including one specialty elective. Additionally, in the second year of study, students will undertake two 12 credit point practice-based units of study which collectively include 300 advanced clinical practice hours. (For specific units of study, refer to the Study tables.) The inclusion of the two 12 credit point units (one of which is a Capstone) is designed to provide students with an opportunity to draw together the learning that has taken place during the award, synthesise this with their prior learning and experience, and draw conclusions that will form the basis for further investigation, and intellectual and/or professional growth.

Student learning is further supported by the University’s eLearning.

Note: This course is not available to international students.

Applying for a master's degree

There are two intakes of students for the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) – in March and/or July each year.

Application must be made online. You will also need to upload copies of other documentation as part of your online application process. To assist you, there is a checklist of required documents that you will need.

Admission requirements for the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)

To apply for admission to the candidature for the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) you need to meet the following University of Sydney admission requirements specified for Advanced Learning master's degrees:

• You must hold a Bachelor of Nursing degree, or another equivalent degree, with a minimum grade point average of credit or better; and hold a minimum of a graduate certificate in the area of clinical practice that is relevant to the nurse practitioner application. Where the graduate certificate does not meet those requirements, you need to be able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and experience at an advanced practice level in the area of specialty practice related to the Nurse Practitioner application as demonstrated by portfolio and referee reports.
• You must also be registered to practise nursing in an Australian state or territory.

In addition you must have:

• a minimum of three years experience as a registered nurse, of which two years full-time (or equivalent) experience is in the area of practice relevant to the application and one of these years is at an advanced practice level
• a nominated Primary Clinical Supervisor* to support your learning while undertaking the practice embedded in the course
• a minimum of two references** from two senior clinicians attesting to your advanced practice*** experience and capabilities
• a letter of support from your Director of Nursing stating that you will be supported to carry out the 300 advanced clinical practice hours while you are enrolled in the degree

*Primary Clinical Supervisor

You will be required to be supported by an approved Primary Clinical Supervisor while undertaking the degree. The Primary Clinical Supervisor must hold a minimum qualification at a master's level or deemed equivalent by other achievements and professional activities. The Primary Clinical Supervisor will be an advanced practice clinician holding a clinical position in your workplace with responsibility to act as a mentor, teacher and supervisor while you undertake the required clinical components of this course. Documentation from the nominated Primary Clinical Supervisor should include a copy of their CV and a statement as to why they are appropriate to fulfil the role.

**References

When providing a reference for applicants to the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) your referee should follow these guidelines and include the following information:

1. applicants name and clinical position
2. referee name, qualifications and clinical position
3. length of time applicant known to referee
4. capacity applicant is known to the referee
5. the applicant’s ability to conduct advanced practice nursing in relation to the areas of practice listed below with examples of how the applicant demonstrates these skills:
       – advanced level health assessment skills
       – advanced level therapeutic management skills
       – advanced level differential diagnostic skills and knowledge
       – advanced level pharmacology knowledge
       – advanced level triage / prioritisation skills
       – ability to evaluate practice at an advanced level
       – affective clinical leadership
6. Signature and date

***Advanced practice

Advanced practice nursing defines a level of nursing practice that utilises extended and expanded skills, experience and knowledge in assessment, planning, implementation, diagnosis and evaluation of the care required. Nurses practising at this level are educationally prepared at postgraduate level and may work in a specialist or generalist capacity. However, the basis of advanced practice is the high degree of knowledge, skill and experience that is applied within the nurse-patient/client relationship to achieve optimal outcomes through critical analysis, problem solving and accurate decision making (ANMC, 2006).

List of documents to upload with your online application

There are quite a few documents which you will need to upload with your online enrolment. To help you, we have compiled a checklist. In the checklist you will also find additional documents specific to your enrolment for the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner).

Master's degree with honours

As a master's student, you may become eligible to study for an honours degree in your area of specialty. People take an honours degree for a variety of reasons – usually for professional advancement and/or personal fulfilment. An honours degree allows you to undertake more detailed and in-depth research in your particular specialty field of practice. If you successfully complete the honours degree with First Class or upper Second Class Honours you are eligible for entry into a PhD. You may also be eligible for a competitive scholarship.

More information about honours degrees can be found in the research degrees section of this website.

Cost of a master's degree

Master’s courses are full-fee paying and costs may increase each year. Fee-Help is available for Australian Citizens and the student centre will provide you with further information regarding eligibility and repayment information. The international fee rates vary depending on which level of degree you choose.

Visit the Costs and scholarships website for more detailed information.

Recognition of prior learning

Sydney Nursing School works within existing frameworks for recognition of prior learning as established by the University of Sydney. Students may be granted credit on the basis of previous studies where the student has completed comparable subject matter in prior studies at the same academic level. In order to qualify for an award a student must, for postgraduate award courses, complete at least 50 percent of the requirements prescribed for the award course at the University. These requirements may be varied where the work was completed as part of an embedded program at the University or as part of an award course approved by the University in an approved conjoint venture with another institution. The credit granted on the basis of work completed at an institution other than a university normally should not exceed one third of the overall award course requirements.

Full-time study patterns for the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)

The following study patterns indicate which units you will study in each semester.
For full descriptions of each of the following courses, click on the unit of study codes.

NOTE: Some new courses which are still being processed do not yet show their full course codes. They will be linked to their unit of study details soon.

Year 1

Year 2