Handbook : Course informationEdith Cowan University

Course Information

Master of Clinical Nursing

Effective from 01-JAN-2025 : Code I52

This coursework Masters allows nurse clinicians to enhance their individual specialty knowledge and competence whilst working in their selected area of specialisation. Theoretical and practical knowledge will be augmented by a substantial clinical project to enable the development of advanced critical thinking and project writing skills. The program encourages innovative evidence-based practice that will ultimately lead to improved nursing practice.

Disclaimer

This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester. In particular please check the course requirements and the unit and unit set offerings, as these differ according to course delivery location.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Reflect critically on a complex body of nursing knowledge, research principles and methods to demonstrate mastery of clinical nursing in a chosen specialisation.
2. Apply cognitive and creative analytical skills to investigate, evaluate and synthesise complex ideas, concepts and theories in authentic clinical nursing care situations relating to a chosen specialisation.
3. Apply and model communication and collaboration skills to analyse and design innovative contributions to professional practice.
4. Use high level self-management skills to initiate, plan and execute a substantial research-based project.

Admission requirements

Admission requirement (Band 6)

• Bachelor degree; or
• Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.

English Language requirement (Band 5)

English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• IELTS Academic with a minimum overall score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking);
• Occupational English Test (OET) with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking);
• Pearson English Test (PTE) Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking);
• TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test:
  • 24 for listening
  • 24 for reading,
  • 27 for writing, and
  • 23 for speaking;
• Bachelor degree from an approved country;
• Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
• Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience.

Note:  English tests must be completed within 2 years of the proposed course commencement date and additional requirements may apply in relation to acceptable number of test sittings.

Course Specific Admission Requirements

All applicants are required to provide proof of current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and to submit a copy of their contract as proof they are working a minimum 18 hours a week in their chosen specialty area. For applicants undertaking the Mental Health and Children and Young Peoples Nursing streams that is all that is required. For applicants in all other streams the following requirements must be met. Applicants must provide a letter of support from their employer and the details of a Clinical Facilitator. Special entry may be considered for Registered Nurses with hospital-based diploma working in the specialty area, please refer to the specialisation stream for further information. Applicants who are packaged with an English preparation course must be re-tested against an approved English test before admission. One or more of the specialisations in this course has admission requirements. Refer to the specialisation for more information.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework) Award.

Course Duration

• Full Time: 2 Years
• Part Time: 4 Years

Course Delivery

• Online: Full Time, Part Time

Course Coordinator

Dr Yvonne MIDDLEWICK

Course Structure

Students complete the prescribed units within their chosen specialisation. Where suitable, students can negotiate other specialty fields with the Course Coordinator.

Unit sets that can be studied as part of this course