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Additional Information for Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) Applicants

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for this course are pursuant with the Standards and Criteria for the Accreditation of Nursing and Midwifery Courses Leading to Registration, Enrolment, Endorsement and Authorisation in Australia – Nurse Practitioner (ANMC, 2009); and with the Pathways to Qualifications in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Guidelines for Master degrees:

  1. Must be registered as a nurse with AHPRA with no conditions relating to unsatisfactory professional performance or unprofessional conduct; and

  2. have completed a bachelor degree in nursing, at this or another University; or hold equivalent qualifications; or submit, as an exceptional case, other evidence of appropriate professional attainments including professional experience in nursing; and

  3. hold a postgraduate qualification in their specialty area; and

  4. have completed a minimum of five years full-time equivalent (FTE) of clinical experience as a registered nurse of which at least three years FTE is in a relevant specialty area; and

  5. be concurrently employed at least 0.5 FTE in an advanced practice/nurse practitioner student role for the duration of the course; and

  6. have access to clinical supervision in their specialty area.

Clinical Requirements

There are extensive clinical requirements in the Nurse Practitioner program (tied to employment), with the need for a Registered Medical Practitioner or Nurse Practitioner to act as your clinical supervisor for the duration of the course.The clinical requirements are tied to the subjects NS5901, NS5902 (taught by School of Medicine), NS5903, NS5906 (taught by School of Nursing).The 190 hours of clinical practice for subjects NS5903 & NS5906 lies within your employment as an advanced practice nurse/supported NP student, and is documented by Mini-CEX assessments; formative and summative assessments completed by your supervisor(s) for submission to the School and inclusion in your NP portfolio required to be submitted to AHPRA.

Clinical Supervisor Requirements

A Clinical Supervisor is a Medical Practitioner or Registered Nurse Practitioner who is currently practising the extended clinical skills in the specialty field of the student.At least one Clinical Supervisor will be identified by prospective students on application for the course.

The Clinical Supervisor will have completed a Clinical Supervisor Registration Form (below) agreeing to supervise, mentor and assess the student.Subjects requiring clinical assessments (NS5901, NS5902, NS5903, NS5906) will require the clinical supervisor(s) to sign a verification of clinical support form each study period throughout the course.

The Clinical Supervisor is required to have regular contact and collaboration with the student.In some instances in remote settings, the Clinical Supervisor may be in telephone contact (e.g. Royal Flying Doctor).In all situations, the Clinical Supervisor is required to monitor and assess the extended practice of the student.

Students may also identify additional clinicians relevant to the specialty.These clinicians may be pharmacists, radiographers or other allied health professionals.In some situations, a senior nurse (e.g. Director of Nursing/nominee) may be added by the student to the supervisory team. All nominated supervisors must sign a Clinical Supervisor Registration form.Where there is more than one Clinical Supervisor, team meetings will occur.

Download 2013 NP Course Manual for further information.

Additional Documentary Requirements

In addition to the application documentary requirements, Nurse Practitioner applicants also need to provide the following completed forms with their application:

  1. Nurse Practitioner Student Registration Form;

  2. Nurse Practitioner Clinical Supervisor Registration Form (one for each supervisor)

  3. Nurse Practitioner Clinical Placement Schedule (completed by Director of Medical/Nursing Services).

Residential School

Subjects NS5901/02 includes attendance at a compulsory 5-day residential school at the Townsville campus (odd-years only – 2013 dates 13-17th May).

Intakes

Once-yearly intakes are offered (commencing February).The NP practical subjects (NS5901/02) commence in February odd years only. In even years, applicants can commence with the following theory-based subjects only: NS5201, NS5790 or electives.

Course Structure

The NP practical foundation subjects (NS5901/NS5902/NS5921/NS5905) are only offered every second year (odd years only).As these are pre-requisites for the clinical practice subjects NS5903 & NS5906, it is only possible to enrol students into a part-time schedule (minimum 24 months).

Year One (odd year only)

Study Period 1: NS5901, NS5902 (includes 5 day residential block in Townsville), Elective(1)

Study Period 2: NS5921, NS5905, NS5201

Year Two (even year only)

Study Period 1: NS5922, NS5903, NS5790

Study Period 2: NS5906, NS5366, Elective(2)

You can see the individual requirements within each subject description from our School website at http://www.jcu.edu.au/nursing/pgcoursework/subjects/index.htm

Advanced Standing

Applicants may be eligible for advanced standing in recognition of formal studies (max. 12 credit points) and/or recognised prior learning [RPL] (max. 6 credit points).All of the core NP subjects must be completed, and are only eligible for credit if applicants have completed an equivalent postgraduate subject at another University within the past five years.

Restrictions:Studies undertaken to fulfil the entry requirements to JCU awards may not be used for advanced standing.

Application Procedures

Return to Applying for Postgraduate Coursework Programs for further information.