The program provides Registered Nurses working in mental health settings with qualifications in their professional field of practice, advances knowledge of professional issues, and develops their ability to independently undertake projects or research.
Content & Structure
The program consists of 54 units of study offered over 1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent. Students undertake 13.5 units of core courses, 22.5 units of negotiated studies, and 18 units of minor thesis or project.
Courses available as negotiated studies integrate knowledge related to the biosciences, social and behavioural sciences, technology, health policy and advanced clinical decision-making, and innovative and scholarly practice. These course also provide students with the skills to be lifelong learners and to be able to extend their competence and knowledge through critical analysis and reflection. Core courses allow students to identify policy and practice issues in nursing, and explore health team collaboration in their field of study. Emphasis is also placed on understanding research methods and how they relate to practice and processes within the health care sector. Students will have the benefit of integrating research findings into their practice. The project or thesis provides students with the opportunity to be involved in research or project work which explores evidence that substantiates their practice.
1. Credit for previous studies or in recognition of prior learning may be granted in accordance with University Policy. Maximum credit allowed is normally one-third of the total units of the program.
2. Registered Nurses with mental health qualifications (Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing) will be granted 18 units credit in the Master of Mental Health Nursing.
3. Students must complete 18 units of either Minor Thesis 1 and 2 or Project 1 and 2 as the final two courses of their program.
4. The Project or Thesis courses must relate to mental health nursing practice.
Notes
1. Students undertaking Negotiated Studies will, with the approval of the Program Director, select 22.5 units of study from a range of courses offered, noting that not all courses will be offered every year and may also be subject to demand.
2. Core courses (13.5 units) comprise Collaborative Approaches to Health (9 units) and Applying Research to Nursing and Midwifery (4.5 units).
3. Students undertaking a minor thesis of study will be assigned a supervisor and contract their study by negotiation in accordance with the University's guidelines on research.