Australia’s Nursing Education

Educational Aims: Learner centred programs which

focus on the professional needs of nurses

Programs which prepare nurses to contribute to, and lead improvements in health in a changing health care system

Features ofPrograms

• Meeting the diverse needs of the profession

– Australia offers a broad range of specialties and areas for study

• Focus on developing clinical competence

• Core units focusing on leadership and management, and contemporary practice issues

• Learning strategies which foster lifelong learning, critical analysis, and information literacy

• Emphasis on evidence based practice

Developing professional attributes essential forexcellence in nursing practice

Features ofAustralia’s Programs

• Providing flexible pathways• Integration of award and non-

award learning, and recognition of prior learning

Focus on the professional career needs of nurses

Features ofAustralia’s Postgraduate Programs

Flexible modes

of delivery

Features of Programs

Partnerships between the university and the health sector

Features of Programs

Doctor of Philosophy

Master of Nursing/Master of Nursing Science (Nurse Practitioner)

Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) Graduate Diploma in Nursing Graduate Diploma in Midwifery

Graduate Certificates

Bachelor of Nursing

Pathways for Australian Nursing Education

Undergraduate Programs

Three year university degree program minimum entry for registered nurses

Enrolled Nurse (practice nurse)

18 month course at technical college (TAFE)

Undergraduate Program: 1st year:

Foundation year, introduction to key areas of nursing and the health system

2nd year:

Builds on knowledge from first year and Introduces advanced nursing

3rd year:

speciality areas are the major focus

Clinical Practice

• Graduates throughout the three years with increased clinical hours introduced every year of the program

• Clinical teacher support ratio 1:8

• 1200 hours of clinical practice required for degree courses

Postgraduate nursing education

Graduate Certificates Consist of 4 units Can be completed in 1 year of part-time study

Graduate Diploma in NursingGraduate Diploma in Midwifery

Consists of 8 units Can be completed in 1 year of full-time study or

2 years of part-time study

Master of Nursing/ • Consists of 12 units Can be completed in 1 and a half years of full-

time study or 3 years of part-time study

Master of Nursing Science (Nurse Practitioner)• can be completed in 2 years of full-time or 4 years of

part-time study

Postgraduate Courses

AGED CARE NURSING

MEDICAL/SURGICAL NURSING

PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

INTENSIVE CARE NURSING

WOMEN’S HEALTH

CANCER NURSING

COMMUNITY PRACTICE

MIDWIFERY

PAEDIATRIC, CHILD & YOUTH HEALTH NURSING

MENTAL HEALTH NURSING

Doctor of Health Science (Nursing)

program designed for the advanced practitioner

small units of study and research

over three years

Doctor of Philosophy

• Major thesis

• Large body of research work

• Students assigned supervisors

• Examination: international and local

•Any Questions?