Clinical Nurse
A clinical nurse is part of the senior nursing staff that work within the acute care sector.
The Master of Nursing degree is designed for Registered Nurses (RN) who wish to advance their career by developing the necessary knowledge to confidently operate in senior clinical, leadership, or research positions.
You will learn advanced nursing concepts and enhance your critical-thinking, leadership, communication, research and decision-making skills. Further, in most master qualifications you will focus on a chosen specialisation that aligns with your desired career goals.
Considering studying a Master of Nursing? Find and compare masters degrees from around Australia below.
Throughout this two-year degree, you will learn how to work with other health professionals to provide the highest q ...
Overview The UTS Online Master of Public Health is designed for professionals who are passionate about creating positiv ...
Overview VU Online’s Master of Nursing, with specialisations in Chronic Disease and Aging and Nursing Leadership, is ...
Overview The demand for specialist nursing in mental health has never been greater. From early intervention to later li ...
Overview With a rapidly ageing population, changes in technology, changes in management demands, and the evolution of n ...
Overview Australia’s ever-evolving health care system is under pressure with resource constraints, policy reform and ...
Are you a Registered Nurse (RN) looking to upgrade your qualifications or become a leader in the health care sector? Our ...
The Master of Nursing Practice is a two-year graduate entry master degree that can lead you to be eligible for registrat ...
Overview The Master of Nursing Science (MNSc) from the University of Melbourne is a professional master’s degree that ...
Overview The focus of the Master of Nursing is to provide the necessary skills for Registered Nurses to meet their prof ...
Overview Want to make your mark on nursing? JCU’s online Graduate Certificate of Nursing will help prepare you for th ...
A Masters in Nursing allows you to expand on your current nursing skillset and achieve your professional goals. Whether you want to develop yourself within a specialised area, or take on a higher-level position, here are some common reasons for obtaining a nursing masters.
With each university in Australia offering a slightly different Master of Nursing degree, it can be difficult navigating through all the available information online to find the right course for you. To help with this, we have answered some of the most common questions you may have, to help you understand what to expect and the options available to you.
Most Master of Nursing degrees in Australia will take you 1.5 years of full-time or 3 years part-time to complete. However, some universities allow you to obtain your masters in as little as 1 year full-time or 1.5 years part-time.
In Australia, the total cost of a Master of Nursing can range anywhere between $5,000 and $65,000 for a domestic student, and can depend on a number of factors.
Although each university program has their own admissions criteria, typically you will be expected to demonstrate the following:
Note: You can still study a Master of Nursing without a Bachelor of Nursing. Some univerisities offer a specific ‘graduate entry’ program, than accept students who have completed any undergraduate degree. However, note that some of these don’t involve placement and therefore don’t provide you the practical skills needed to become a RN.
Each Master of Nursing course consists of 12 units of study that are completed over several semesters. The program will often include both core and elective units, plus a capstone project or thesis.
Universities tend to provide their own unique selection of specialisations that you can major in. Each with their own corresponding core subject areas. In some cases, these may involve practical placement or a learning component within the work setting.
In most cases, the answer is yes. Many universities in Australia offer a Master of Nursing 100% online. Unlike the Bachelor or Diploma of Nursing qualifications, the masters degree places a greater emphasis on learning advanced theoretical knowledge and nursing principles in clinical, leadership, or research settings.
Of course, a Masters in Nursing course can also be found on-campus, or in a blended format should that be your preference.
If you are looking to progress into more senior roles, a masters degree may be the key to unlocking your future, or it may just provide you with the confidence to be a more effective leader in a rapidly evolving nusing industry. It’s also a great way to meet your CPD requirements as a RN.
According to the Australian Goverment’s Labour Market Insights a substantial chunk of senior nurses hold a postgraduate qualification.
At the same time, it’s not alway a requirement to have a masters qualification in these senior roles (with some exceptions). If you are comfortable where you are in your career and the progress you are making towards your goals, a nursing masters may not be the right pathway for you.
Although a relatively new concept, many universities today offer a ‘nested’ qualification pathway, that enables students to work towards a master’s by first completing a 4-unit Graduate Certificate, or 8-unit Graduate Diploma in Nursing. This provides students the option to break up their masters program into more digestible chunks and qualify for the next level qualification as they go. This appeals to many students as they can obtain an initial postgraduate qualification sooner, but still have the option to continue their learning as their career also progresses.
After completing a Master of Nursing, you will have gained advanced knowledge and competencies in nursing practice, that will enable you to operate confidently at a higher-level. You may leverage your newfound skills to secure a leadership role, specialise in a focal area, or further your studies with a PhD.
There are wide range specialisations for the Master of Nursing to choose from, each with their own dedicated career path. Here are few of the most popular nursing specialisations.
A clinical nurse is part of the senior nursing staff that work within the acute care sector.
A neonatal nurse specialises in providing supportive health care to newborn infants up to four-weeks-old
Provide nursing care for patients before, during and after they undergo surgery or a non-surgical procedure
ER nurses treat patients who require immediate medical attention, such as those with severe injury or trauma.
An ICU nurse care for patients experiencing high-dependency, or life threatening conditions.
A mental health nurse focuses on proving special healthcare to a patient who suffers from mental health problems.
Paediatric nurses care specifically for babies and children under 18.
Registered nurse with advanced training that provide higher levels of care.
An aged care nurse is primarily concerned with providing care to elderly people.
As Australia’s population continues to age at a rapid rate, the demand for qualified senior nurses is also on the rise. It is projected by the Department of Health, that by 2025 there will be nurse deficit of approximately 85,000 nurses. And by 2030, that will increase to 123,000.
In this post-COVID era, nurses are the most in demand profession in 2022, and account for 19% of all healthcare jobs. Employers will be seeking out qualified senior nurses to lead their workforce, making it a good time to invest in your future.