Master of Nursing (with specialisations)

Learn from future-focused academics

When you study with Charles Sturt, you’ll join a strong academic community. You’ll learn from and connect with industry leaders and experienced nursing academics, so you can build on your existing knowledge and skills.

Specialise in an area you’re passionate about

Choose from five industry-aligned specialisations: aged care, clinical education, leadership and management, research for clinical practice or rural and remote nursing. These specialisations give you the opportunity to explore an area related to your career, an area you’re passionate about or an area you’d like to move into.

Flexibility and support is a given

As Australia’s most experience online uni, we know what it takes to study online. Delivered 100 per cent online, this course gives you the option to fast-track your career as you continue to work. You’ll also get to experience small virtual class numbers, guaranteeing one-to-one support and direct access to your subject coordinators. You’ll also have the option to exit with a graduate certificate or graduate diploma, allowing you the flexibility to complete your study when it suits you and still receive a qualification.

Create a real-world impact

Interested in exploring postgraduate research opportunities? You can make a real and lasting difference with Charles Sturt. Our nursing academics are known for their research excellence in key subject areas, including regional and remote communities, and improving health outcomes. The new research specialisation means you can apply your research skills to improve practice – and create a real difference.

Are you ready to take your nursing career to the next level? Study with a university with more than 40 years’ experience delivering nursing education. The Master of Nursing (with specialisations) from Charles Sturt University will provide you with a platform to build on your existing knowledge and experience – and specialise in an area that you’re passionate about: aged care, clinical education, leadership and management, research for clinical practice or rural and remote nursing.

Recommended study pattern

The course consists of three core subjects (32 points), two compulsory subjects (24 points), and a choice of a specialisation in Aged Care Nursing, Rural and Remote Nursing, Leadership and Management, Clinical Education or Research for Clinical Practice. Students may also choose to graduate with a Master of Nursing (without specialisation) or to exit the course a Graduate Diploma of Nursing (with or without a specialisation) or a Graduate Certificate in Nursing (without specialisation).

Note:

* denotes a key subject

A standard subject is 8 points. Non-standard subject point values are identified in parenthesis after the subject name.

Master of Nursing (with specialisation)

To graduate with Master of Nursing (with specialisation), students will have completed the following subjects:

Core Subjects

NRS566 Advanced Nursing Practice *

HLT520 Practice Improvement Proposal

HLT524 Practice Improvement Project (16)

Compulsory subjects

NRS567 Value Based Healthcare and Critical Inquiry (16) *

IKC502 Critical Studies: Indigenous Australian Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities *

Specialisations: Aged Care Nursing, Clinical Education, Leadership and Management, and Rural and Remote Nursing

In addition to the core and compulsory subjects (56 credit points), students complete the specialisation and restricted elective subjects according to the enrolment pattern for their chosen specialisation stream (40 credit points).

Research for Clinical Practice

Students completing this specialisation enrol in:

NRS566 Advanced Nursing Practice *

HLT520 Practice Improvement Proposal

NRS567 Value Based Healthcare and Critical Inquiry (16) *

IKC502 Critical Studies: Indigenous Australian Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities *

HRS410 Science Honours Research Methods

HRS422 Science (Honours) Research Commencement

HRS441 Science Honours Research Dissertation (16)

Master of Nursing (without specialisation)

To graduate with a Master of Nursing (without specialisation), students will have completed the following subjects:

Core Subjects

NRS566 Advanced Nursing Practice *

HLT520 Practice Improvement Proposal

HLT524 Practice Improvement Project (16)

Compulsory subjects

NRS567 Value Based Healthcare and Critical Inquiry (16) *

IKC502 Critical Studies: Indigenous Australian Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities *

Restricted Electives (40)

Graduate Diploma of Nursing (with specialisation) [Exit point only]

Students transferring into the Master of Nursing from a Charles Sturt Graduate Certificate in Nursing course can continue to progress through their chosen specialisation from the second year of the enrolment pattern of their chosen specialisation stream.

To graduate with the Graduate Diploma in Nursing (with specialisation) [Exit point only] students will have completed the following subjects:

Core Subjects

NRS566 Advanced Nursing Practice *

Compulsory Subjects

NRS567 Value Based Healthcare and Critical Inquiry (16) *

IKC502 Critical Studies: Indigenous Australian Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities *

Specialisations: Aged Care Nursing, Clinical Education, Leadership and Management, and Rural and Remote Nursing

In addition to the core and compulsory subjects (32 points), students complete the specialisation and restricted elective subjects according to the enrolment pattern for their chosen specialisation (32 points).

Research for Clinical Practice

Students completing this specialisation enrol in

NRS566 Advanced Nursing Practice *

HLT520 Practice Improvement Proposal

NRS567 Value Based Healthcare and Critical Inquiry (16) *

IKC502 Critical Studies: Indigenous Australian Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities *

HRS410 Science Honours Research Methods

HRS422 Science (Honours) Research Commencement

Restricted Elective (8)

Graduate Diploma of Nursing (without specialisation) [Exit point only]

To graduate with a Graduate Diploma of Nursing (without specialisation) students will have completed the following subjects:

Core Subjects

NRS566 Advanced Nursing Practice *

Compulsory Subjects

NRS567 Value Based Healthcare and Critical Inquiry (16) *

IKC502 Critical Studies: Indigenous Australian Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities *

Restricted Electives (32)

Graduate Certificate in Nursing [Exit point only]

To graduate with the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (without specialisation) [Exit point only] students will have completed the following subjects:

Core Subjects

NRS566 Advanced Nursing Practice *

Restricted electives (24 points)

Restricted Electives

BMS536 Applied Pharmacology for Nursing Practice

GE501 Contemporary Issues in Gerontology

GER402 Ageing Bodies, Ageing Minds

GER501 Contemporary Issues in Gerontology

HLT518 Foundations of Clinical Education

HLT519 Evaluation in Clinical Education

HLT521 Teaching and Learning in Clinical Education

HLT523 Assessment in Clinical Education

HML407 Leadership Practice and Influence in Health Services

HML502 Improving Health Care Quality

HML504 Financial Management of Health Services

HML505 Managing Change Projects in Health Services

HML508 Creativity Innovation and Change

HRS410 Science Honours Research Methods

NRS528 Child Health Care & Promotion

NRS532 Health Assessment for Advancing Nursing Practice

NRS533 Advancing Emergency Care Nursing Practice

NRS555 Palliative Care in Advanced Practice Nursing

NRS570 Strengthening Primary Health Care with Rural Communities

NRS571 Working with Communities to Develop Mental Health Care Capacity and Resilience

NRS572 Optimising Health: Living Well with Complex and Chronic Conditions

NRS575 Leadership and Clinical Governance in Aged Care (4)

NRS576 Clinical Leadership in Nursing

NRS577 Leading Health Care Improvement

NRS578 Advanced Clinical Assessment of the Older Person (4)

Award requirements

As a Charles Sturt University student, throughout your course you have a responsibility to continue to develop skills in English language, literacy and numeracy as appropriate to your discipline. This ongoing development will enable you to effectively participate in your course and graduate prepared to enter the workforce.

Master of Nursing (generic with specialisations)

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 96 points.

Exit points

Graduate Diploma of Nursing (generic with specialisations) [Exit Point Only]

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 64 points.

Graduate Certificate in Nursing (with specialisations) [Exit Point Only]

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 32 points.

Charles Sturt University is Australia’s most experienced online uni, and has the country’s highest graduate employment rate. From agriculture, arts, healthcare and IT, to business, law, social work and teaching—you’ll get the latest skills in your field, and learn from academics who are connected to industry. Add in 24/7 IT support, scholarships and a vibrant student community, and you can take your next, or first, career step with confidence.

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Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:

37

Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Nursing degree or professional qualification which leads to registration as a Registered Nurse Division 1 with the Australian Health Professional Regulation Agency or equivalent. Applicants must be working in the area of speciality and must have at least 12 months full-time experience as a registered nurse. 

Standard English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements. Refer to http://futurestudents.csu.edu.au/apply/english-language for the specific requirements.

If you’ve studied before, you may be able to fast-track your postgraduate degree with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If you’ve completed relevant tertiary study, you could be awarded credit for your postgraduate degree. Get in touch to see if you’re eligible for credit based on your previous qualifications or industry experience.

Master of Nursing (generic with specialisations)

Standard Charles Sturt credit rules apply.

Entrants holding a Graduate Certificate or Diploma in Nursing from Charles Sturt University will receive credit for the subjects completed.

Entrants holding a Graduate Certificate in Nursing (or equivalent) from a university or the Australian College of Nursing will receive 32 points of unspecified credit.

Canadian entrants: Students who have completed a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program are awarded a 32 point (four subject) credit package upon admission.