Master of Clinical Nursing

Graduates of the Master of Clinical Nursing will be able to:

LO1: Demonstrate advanced specialist clinical nursing knowledge and skill and clinical leadership which is informed by evidence-based practice;

LO2: Synthesise and evaluate complex clinical information, problems and concepts and demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge to reflect critically on theory as it applies to specialist clinical care setting;

LO3: Apply a range of advanced evidence-based clinical nursing knowledge and skills to respond to challenges and opportunities that arise within the dynamic context of the wider health care setting and promote high quality, culturally safe, person centred and effective health care provision that responds to emerging and unique needs. 

The Master of Clinical Nursing is designed to expand your knowledge and skills in clinical nursing and practice.

ACU Online offers a generic Clinical Nursing course as well as the Master of Clinical Nursing with nine specialisations: correctional health, gerontological nursing, medical, renal, surgical, neuroscience, cardiac care, intensive care and perioperative. By undertaking a specialisation, you will develop your holistic care skills in specialty practice, including person- and family-centred health promotion. Specific knowledge in the areas of bioscience, pharmacology, and lifespan development, relevant to your chosen specialty, will also be explored and applied to your clinical nursing practice.

The Master of Clinical Nursing (without a specialisation) focuses on developing your skills and knowledge as a registered nurse enabling you to effectively work across a diverse range of clinical settings. You will learn how to critically analyse and evaluate complex clinical presentations and apply your newly-acquired knowledge to effectively assess and problem solve in any health care environment. Modules within this specialisation cover integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in the context of pain assessment, and management. 

In the correctional health specialisation, the mental health of prisoners is comprehensively and extensively covered. Modules include the importance of physical health, healthcare management, and consequences of accelerated ageing of the prison population.

Older persons require a multi-faceted approach to care and the gerontological nursing specialisation will support you to undertake risk assessment, clinical decision-making and to implement risk mitigation strategies to ensure the delivery of quality and safe person-centred care to older persons.

The medical specialisation explores acute and chronic medical conditions across multiple biological systems with modules covering integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in an ageing population. Foci include common respiratory conditions, the significance of infection control and the implications of hospital acquired infections.

The renal specialisation explores acute renal conditions as well as living with renal disease and the role of the nurse in primary health care for people suffering chronic renal disease. You will explore the role of vascular access devices in the care of the person with Renal disease and infection control considerations, haemo and peritoneal dialysis.

The surgical specialisation explores acute and chronic health conditions that require surgical intervention. Modules include principles and management of nursing care across the pre-operative, post-operative and discharge, surgical care continuum. Content related to surgical comorbidities, common surgical procedures, surgical safety, risk assessment and the early recognition and timely escalation of deterioration to mitigate patient harm is extensively covered. The impact that pre-operative and post-operative complications have for surgical patient outcomes, and discharge planning, will also be detailed. 

The neuroscience specialisation explores acute and chronic neurological conditions and the role of the nurse in providing evidence-based nursing care. Through the lens of a person- and family-centred focus you will explore critical care concepts within the neuroscience specialisation. This specialisation is offered through our affiliate model whereby you will undertake two of the four course units with an ACU affiliate facility where you will be employed in the intensive care setting. The other two units you will undertake online with ACU. The ACU units explore integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in patients with a critical condition.

In the cardiac care specialisation, you will explore critical care concepts through the lens of a person- and family-centred focus. Modules explore acute coronary syndromes, heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Rhythm interpretation and common dysrhythmias through normal 12 lead ECG and interpretation of abnormal findings are also embedded within the specialty modules. Other topics such as cardiomyopathy & cardiac valves, Implantable devices, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiac rehabilitation and palliative care in cardiac nursing care are embedded in this specialty module.

The intensive care specialisation will explore critical care concepts within the intensive care specialisation. This specialisation is offered through our affiliate model where you will undertake two of the four course units with an ACU affiliate facility where you will be employed in the intensive care setting. The other two units you will undertake online with ACU where you will explore integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in patients with a critical condition.

The perioperative specialisation explores the operating theatre environment through the lens of a person- and family-centred focus. Modules cover integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in the context of pain assessment, and management and surgical risk models

Recommended study pattern

To qualify for the Master of Clinical Nursing, a student must complete 120 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:

a. For Project Stream:

i. 50 cp from Specified Units

ii. 20 cp from Specialisation

OR

20 cp from Clinical Nursing Units

iii. 30 cp from Project Stream Units

iv. 20 cp from Elective Units

b. For Research Stream:

i. 50 cp from Specified Units

ii. 20 cp from Specialisation

OR

20 cp from Clinical Nursing Units

iii. 50 cp from Research Stream Units

Students may need to remain employed in the specialty nursing area while studying the x4 clinical nursing units (Grad Cert level) unless approved otherwise by the Course Coordinator.

Award requirements

To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 120 cp from the schedule of subject offerings.

Exit points

A student who has completed the following requirements from the specialisations in the Schedule of Unit Offerings may exit with the relevant award:

1. Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing:40 cp from Clinical Nursing units;
2. Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nursing: 40 cp from Clinical Nursing units 40 cp from either Project Stream Units or Research Stream Units.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $10,134

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.

Learn more about ACU.

Explore ACU courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

35

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

26

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Clinical Nursing, an applicant must:

a) Have completed a Bachelor of Nursing degree or equivalent; AND

b) Hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) AND

c) Be employed in a substantive position in their chosen specialisation unless approved otherwise by the course coordinator.

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

• Academic IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 (with minimum scores of 6.0 in all tests).
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): 58 with a minimum of 50 in all four communicative skills.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language - Academic TOEFL: Internet based total of 79 with a minimum 21 in writing, 18 in speaking, 13 in reading, and 12 in listening.
• ACU English Lanugage Test B (65% - 74%).
• Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): Overall CAE of 176 with a minimum individual score of 169 in all tests.

If you have already studied at university level or have significant relevant work experience, you can apply for credit towards your ACU course. Credited units replace units you would otherwise study, so you can finish your course earlier.

Students must be a registered nurse and be employed in a substantive position in their chosen specialisation. They need to remain employed in this specialty nursing area while studying the four clinical nursing units (graduate certificate level) unless approved otherwise by the course coordinator.