Nursing

COURSES OFFERED

The following postgraduate courses are available:

1. Doctor of Philosophy
2. Master of Nursing - Research
3. Graduate Certificate in Nursing
4. Graduate Diploma in Nursing
5. Master of Nursing
6. Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Health
7. Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health
8. Master of Indigenous Health
9. Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing
10. Graduate Diploma in Science (Developmental Disability)
11. Master of Science (Development Disability)
12. Master of Science (Midwifery)
13. Master of Midwifery - Research

CURRENT RESEARCH AREAS

The major current areas of nursing research use educational, demographic, and ethnographic techniques. Studies using a variety of approaches associated with disciplines such as Psychology, History, Economics, Philosophy and Sociology will be considered.

The following areas of research are available to candidates undertaking the Masters by research degrees and the Doctor of Philosophy degree:

• Maternal and child care
• Physiology/ Pathophysiology
• Medical/surgical nursing
• Special care nursing
• Mental health
• Developmental disability
• Psychiatric nursing
• Health promotion
• Cardiovascular disease prevention
• Health services evaluation
• Migrant health
• Indigenous Health Studies

and other areas relevant to nursing.

Please note: assessment requirements will be listed in the subject outlines provided to students at the beginning of each session.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy is offered through the Department of Nursing for research into a selection of topics. These are determined by the availability of supervisors and their areas of expertise. The degree normally requires 3 years full-time study. A requisite for the award of Doctor of Philosophy is that the candidate contributes new knowledge to their discipline.

(Repeat same enrolment each year of study)

GHMB999

Major Thesis

48

Master of Nursing - Research

The Master of Nursing - Research is intended to provide candidate with the opportunity to pursue a research program in a specialised field of nursing.

Entry requirements
Applicants must hold a qualification in Nursing which will enable them to gain authority to practice as a Registered Nurse as well as a Bachelor degree in Nursing, the Graduate Certificate in Nursing outlined below, a Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) or a Master of Nursing degree or equivalent. It is expected that all candidates will undertake the coursework preparation programme outlined below, unless they can demonstrate that they possess the relevant skills and knowledge.

Applicants who do not possess a Bachelor degree in Nursing may gain entry to the Master of Nursing - Research programme by successfully completing a Graduate Certificate in Nursing constituted of NURS331 (Research For Registered Nurses) and NURS328 (Nursing Management) plus two electives from the schedule.

Course structure

Core subjects

GHMB950	Reflective Practice 1	6
GHMD984	Health Research Methodology	6
GHMB953	Special Topic in Nursing	6

Elective - choose one elective from:

GHMD983	Statistics in Health Research	6
or
GHMB951	Reflective Practice 2	6
plus
GHMB999	Major Thesis	6

This program is subject to approval by Academic Senate

Graduate Certificate in Nursing

The Graduate Certificate in Nursing is a short, focused, clinically based course having both academic and industry relevance. It is designed to give students the flexibility to choose subjects that allow professional development to occur in tandem with academic rigour. Candidates may exit following completion of the required subjects having acquired advanced knowledge in their chosen fields and having been prepared for advanced practice. On completion of the Graduate Certificate in Nursing candidates may elect to progress to the Graduate Diploma in Nursing.

24 cp from the subjects listed below:

Graduate Diploma in Nursing*

(a) The Graduate Diploma in Nursing is a professional course in nursing that will provide preparation for the nurse who seeks an expanded role in the health system.

(b) The Graduate Diploma in Nursing provides nurses with the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge in a major area of nursing. Major areas of study include clinical education, critical care nursing, nursing management and research.

Applicants must hold a qualification to practise as a Registered Nurse or an equivalent authority to practise.

Normal entry requirements are as stated in the Course Rules.

48 credit points from the subjects listen below:

Core subjects:

GHMB950	Reflective Practice 1	6
GHMB951	Reflective Practice 2	6
GHMB923	Legal and Professional Issues	6

PLUS: 30 credit points of subjects approved by the Head of Department

Nursing

GHMB902	Nursing Management	6
GHMB903	Scientific and Quantitative Development in Acute Care Nursing	6
GHMB906	Acute Care Nursing: Reflections on Practice	6
GHMB907	Fundamental Concepts in Developmental Disability Practice	6
GHMB908	Applied Behavioural Science for Developmental Disability Practice	6
GHMB910	Contemporary Issues in Develiopmental Disability	6

*Note: This program is currently under review and subject to approval

Master of Nursing

The coursework Masters degree is designed to prepare nurses for leadership roles in nursing and the health care system.

48 credit points from the subjects listed below

Core subjects

GHMB950	Reflective Practice 1	6
GHMB951	Reflective Practice 2	6
GHMS923	Legal and Professional Issues	6
GHMD984	Health Research Methodology	6

PLUS: either GHMB997 Major Project (24 cps) or GHMB998 Minor Thesis (24 cps) as recommended by the Head of Department
                       or
24 Credit points of elective subjects.

Recommended Subjects:

Nursing

GHMB902	Nursing Management	6
GHMB903	Scientific and Quantitative Development in Acute Care Nursing	6
GHMB906	Acute Care Nursing: Reflections on Practice	6
GHMB907	Fundamental Concepts in Developmental Disability Practice	6
GHMB908	Applied Behavioural Science for Developmental Disability Practice	6
GHMB910	Contemporary Issues in Develiopmental Disability	6

Public health

Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Health*

The Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Health Studies prepares graduates to work as autonomous health providers in urban and rural Indigenous communities. The following subjects must be completed.

GHMB904	Modalities of Care: Mental Health	6
GHMB940	Indigenous Family Studies	6
GHMD936	Public Health Nutrition	6
GHMD983	Statistics in Health Research	6

* This program is currently under review

Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health*

The Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health Studies prepares graduates to work as autonomous health providers in urban and rural Indigenous communities.

The following subjects must be completed:

 

GHMB904	Modalities of Care: Mental Health	6
GHMB940	Indigenous Family Studies	6
GHMB941	Indigenous Health Patterns	6
GHMD983	Statistics in Health Research	6
GHMD904	Epidemiology	6
GHMD913	Drug Problems and Issues	6
GHMD936	Public Health Nutrition	6
	Elective subject	6

* This program is currently under review

Master of Indigenous Health*

The Master of Indigenous Health Studies prepares graduates to work as autonomous health providers in urban and rural Indigenous communities.

Option A

The following subjects must be completed:

GHMB904	Modalities of Care: Mental Health	6
GHMB940	Indigenous Family Studies	6
GHMB941	Indigenous Health Patterns	6
GHMD983	Statistics in Health Research	6
GHMD904	Epidemiology	6
GHMD913	Drug Problems and Issues	6
GHMD936	Public Health Nutrition	6
	Elective subject	6
GHMB998	Minor Thesis	24

Option B

The following subjects must be completed:

GHMB904	Modalities of Care: Mental Health	6
GHMB940	Indigenous Family Studies	6
GHMB941	Indigenous Health Patterns	6
GHMD983	Statistics in Health Research	6
GHMD904	Epidemiology	6
GHMD913	Drug Problems and Issues	6
GHMD936	Public Health Nutrition	6
GHMD908	Health Services Planning and Evaluation	6
GHMD912	Health Promotion	6
	Elective subject	6
GHMB942	Special Topic	12

*This program is currently under review

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing

This course is available on campus or by distance.

The following subjects must be completed.

GHMB989	Mental Health Nursing: Clinical Principles and Practice	12
GHMD971	Assessment and Diagnosis in Mental Health	6
GHMD973	Case Management in Mental Health	6

Graduate Diploma in Science (Developmental Disability)

The Graduate Diploma in Science (Developmental Disability) is a multi-disciplinary course designed for health and education professionals providing direct care to people with developmental disabilities. It aims to provide an appropriate theoretical and conceptual framework for practice and access to contemporary information relating to developmental disability. The course consists of specialist developmental disability subjects and electives. Emphasis is on applying theoretical, research-based knowledge to practice in the developmental disability field.

Core and specialisation subjects

GHMB950	Reflective Practice 1	6
GHMB907	Fundamental concepts in Developmetal Disability	6
GHMB908	Applied Behavioural Science for Developmental Disability Practice	6
GHMB910	Contemporary Issues in Developmental Disability	6
GHMB983	Statistics in Health Research	6
GHMD984	Health Research Methodology	6

PLUS: electives (12 cps), normally chosen from the following subjects:

SOC103	Sociology 1A	6
SOC205	Sociology for the Family	6
EDUF101	Child Growth and Development	6

Master of Science (Developmental Disability)

Students enrolled in the Master of Science (Developmental Disability) will have already completed the Graduate Diploma in Science (Developmental Disability). They will undertake a minor thesis on an aspect of developmental disability that consolidates earlier studies in developmental disability and research methodology.

72 credit points from the subjects listed below

Core Subjects
GHMB950	Reflective Practice 1	6
GHMB907	Fundamental concepts in Developmetal Disability	6
GHMB908	Applied Behavioural Science for Developmental Disability Practice	6
GHMB910	Contemporary Issues in Developmental Disability	6
GHMD983	Statistics in Health Research	6
GHMD984	Health Research Methodology	6

Plus: electives (12 cps), normally chosen from the following subjects:

SOC103	Sociology 1A	6
SOC205	Sociology for the Family	6
EDUF101	Child Growth and Development	6
Plus
GHMB998	Minor Thesis	24

Master of Science (Midwifery)

The Master of Science (Midwifery) aims to prepare graduates to function as autonomous practitioners in the professional practice of midwifery. On successful completion of the Master of Science (Midwifery), students who do not hold an authority to practice midwifery and have a current authority to practise as a Registered Nurse, are eligible to apply to the NSW Nurses Registration Board for an authority to practise.

Specialisation (compulsory)

GHMB920	Applied Midwifery Studies	12
GHMB921	Reproductive Bioscience	8
GHMB922	Psychosocial Development of the Family	8
GHMB923	Legal and Professional Issues	6
GHMB924	Midwifery Studies	8
GHMB950	Reflective Practice 1	6

Master of Midwifery - Research

The Master of Midwifery - Research is intended to provide candidates with the opportunity to pursue a research program in a specialised field of midwifery. Interdisciplinary supervision will be encouraged so that a student may have (for instance) a supervisor who is a midwife/nurse academic and another with expertise in an appropriate associated discipline.

Entry requirements
Applicants must hold a qualification in Nursing that will enable them to gain authority to practice as a Registered Nurse, as well as a qualification in Midwifery or a Master of Science (Midwifery) degree (or equivalent). It is expected that all candidates will undertake the coursework preparation program outlined below, unless they can demonstrate that they possess the relevant skills and knowledge.

Course structure
Core subjects

GHMB950	Reflective Practice 1	6
GHMB953	Special Topic in Nursing*	6
GHMD984	Health Research Methodology	6

Elective - choose one elective from:

GHMD983	Statistics in Health Research	6
or
GHMD951	Reflective Practice 2	6

Plus
GHMB999	Major Thesis	48

*This program is subject to approval by Academic Senate