Charles Darwin University
2 years part-time
This Master's degree prepares experienced registered nurses to become Nurse Practitioners with expanded clinical autonomy and leadership capabilities. Delivered online with intensive on-campus blocks, it's ideal for nurses seeking professional advancement in primary, secondary, or tertiary healthcare settings.
Applicants must hold current general registration as a registered nurse with an unrestricted licence to practice in Australia. A minimum of 3600 hours of clinical practice as a registered nurse is required, plus 1800 hours of current, clinically-based advanced nursing practice. Applicants must have completed a postgraduate qualification (degree) at AQF level 8 or higher in a clinical field. Evidence of support from an approved healthcare organisation for practicum requirements, including supervision for 300 hours of supernumerary integrated professional practice, is mandatory. Pre-clinical requirements include immunisation compliance, national police check, working with children check, and current AHPRA registration.
The course comprises eight core units totalling 80 credit points. Year 1 provides foundation Nurse Practitioner core skills and knowledge applied to familiar situations, including: Assess, Examine, Investigate & Diagnose A, Transition to Nurse Practitioner Practice, Nurse Practitioner Integrated Professional Practice 1, and Nursing and Midwifery Professional Leadership. Year 2 broadens and deepens knowledge and skills to enhance capability with unfamiliar clients, covering: Assess, Examine, Investigate & Diagnose B, Pharmacotherapeutics for Independent Prescribers, Research Skills for Health Professionals, and Nurse Practitioner Integrated Professional Practice 2. Students complete simulation blocks and 300+ hours of supervised integrated professional practice throughout the course.
CDU is ranked #2 in Australia for postgraduate nursing starting salary and #3 for postgraduate nursing employment outcomes (GUG 2024), with #3 ranking for postgraduate learner engagement in nursing. The university delivers courses through passionate and expert lecturers guided by evidence, innovation, and patient-centred care. CDU offers flexible study options (online, on-campus, part-time, full-time) and provides practical experience through placements and state-of-the-art clinical simulation suites located around Australia.
As an endorsed Nurse Practitioner, graduates can work in public or private healthcare settings with either a broad general scope or narrow specialist scope of practice. The qualification enables independent clinical judgement and specialist decisions regarding investigation, treatment, and care. Graduates are eligible to apply for NMBA endorsement as a Nurse Practitioner, opening pathways to expanded professional roles, clinical leadership positions, and enhanced career opportunities in primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare settings.
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