Master of Clinical Nursing

Graduates may seek employment in:

• government or private health care;
• education facilities in clinical nursing;
• education; and
• research.

Higher education

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

1. Have completed one of:
   1. a Bachelor of Nursing;
   2. the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing; or
   3. the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nursing
2. Hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA);
3. Be employed in a substantive position in their chosen specialisation unless approved otherwise by the Course Coordinator.

Work and Life

An applicant must:

1. Hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA);
2. Be employed in a substantive position in their chosen specialisation unless approved otherwise by the course coordinator.

English Proficiency Requirements

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.

Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): Overall CAE of 176 with a minimum individual score of 169 in all tests.

Special requirements

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.

Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nursing will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of 80 credit points.

Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of 40 credit points.

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 (see https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/credit-and-prior-learning).

This course builds on from the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing and the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nursing bringing the clinical expert and clinical leadership components together. It aims to expand the health clinician's knowledge and skills in clinical nursing at a specialist and advanced level. The course includes carefully designed coursework units with embedded research-led teaching, with both project and thesis options.

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:

1. For Project Stream:
   1. 40 cp from Clinical Nursing Units;
   2. 60 cp from Project Stream Units;
   3. 20 cp from Elective Units.
2. For Research Stream:
   1. 40 cp from Clinical Nursing units;
   2. 80 cp from Research Stream Units.

Students 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.