Master of Nursing Science (MNSc)
Master of Nursing Science (MNSc)
Program Code
MNUSC
Program Faculty
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Special Notes
The following specialisation will not be offered in 2024:
- Perioperative Nursing
The following specialisations are not available to international students in 2024:
Acute Care Nursing
Anaesthetic and Recovery Nursing
Cardiac Nursing
Emergency Nursing
Intensive Care Nursing
Oncology Nursing
Orthopaedic Nursing
Perioperative Nursing
Academic Year
2024
These Program Rules should be read in conjunction with the University's policies (https://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies).
Overview
The Master of Nursing Science is designed to provide opportunities for nurses to develop advanced skills in clinical inquiry, practice and leadership in professional nursing. The Master of Nursing Science provides graduates with a rigorous grounding in research methods, critical analysis, clinical management and leadership and theoretical perspectives that inform nursing.
Students are able to specialise in: Acute Care Nursing; Anaesthetic and Recovery Nursing; Cardiac Nursing; Emergency Nursing; Intensive Care Nursing; Oncology Nursing; Orthopaedic Nursing and Perioperative Nursing. Students may also complete the program with a Non-Specialist Nursing Science award without undertaking any of the specialisations.
The Master of Nursing Science is an AQF Level 9 qualification with a standard full-time duration of 2 years.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Display a sound knowledge of a broad range of research methodologies and methods.
- Demonstrate the ability to design and conduct a research project in a rigorous and ethical manner.
- Demonstrate the skills to critically evaluate research and make informed decisions for practice change when appropriate.
- Demonstrate the ability to work as an effective member of a research team.
- Display a sound understanding of the philosophical basis of nursing research.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify and describe the major theoretical perspectives that inform nursing practice.
- Demonstrate the ability to be a critical and informed thinker regarding issues related to nursing and health.
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively using a range of mediums.
Conditions
The Master of Nursing Science consists of 48 units of study. The first stage consists of 24 units of study equivalent to a Graduate Diploma in Nursing Science.
An applicant for admission to the program of study for the Master of Nursing Science shall be registered, or be eligible for registration, as a nurse in Australia and for specialisation pathway must be employed at a minimum of 0.64 FTE in the specialty setting (if applicable). Not applicable to international students.
and
a. have qualified for a degree of Bachelor of Nursing, or equivalent, at a university accepted for the purposes by the University
and
b. Have at least two years’ post registration experience as a registered nurse. For the specialisation pathway, this must be in the field of the specialisation to be undertaken.
Direct entry to the second stage of the Master of Nursing Science requires a completed Graduate Diploma in Nursing Science or equivalent. For the specialty Masters, the Graduate Diploma must be in the same specialty.
Condition of Enrolment
Immunisation: Prior to any clinical placement, students will need to provide evidence of immunisation status. Students are required to have the appropriate level of immunisation required by the Immunisation for Health Care Workers in South Australia Policy Directive for tuberculosis (TB) screening and clearance and criminal history clearances (CHC), Prescribed Communicable Infections (PCI) screening, including recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.
Program Maximum Duration: As specified in Table 1 of the Coursework Academic Programs Policy, this program must be completed within a Maximum Duration which includes any periods of non-enrolment, leave of absence or approved study at other institutions for credit towards a Program.
Academic Program Rules for Master of Nursing Science
There shall be a Master of Nursing Science.
Qualification Requirements
To qualify for the Master of Nursing Science, the student must complete satisfactorily a program of study from one of the following specialisations with a combined total of not less than 48 units, comprising:
1. Courses to the value of 24 units from Stage 1 including core courses to the value of 9 units and a specialisation to the value of 15 units from the following:
- Acute Care Nursing
- Anaesthetic and Recovery Nursing
- Cardiac Nursing
- Emergency Nursing
- Intensive Care Nursing
- Oncology Nursing
- Orthopaedic Nursing
- Perioperative Nursing
- Non Specialist Nursing Science
- the Research Dissertation Pathway and electives to the value of 18 units or
- the Systematic Review Pathway and electives to the value of 18 units.
Core Courses
-
Stage 1 Core Courses
To satisfy the requirements for Stage 1 Core Courses students must complete courses to the value of 9 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value NURSING 7100 Knowledge Translation 3 NURSING 7101 Professional Practice 3 NURSING 7102 Research Literacy 3
Major
-
Stage 1 Specialisations
To satisfy the requirements for Stage 1 Specialisations students must complete courses to the value of 15 units.
Courses to the value of 15 units from one of the following specialisations:
Acute Care Nursing
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value NURSING 7105 Acute Care Nursing I 6 NURSING 7106 Acute Care Nursing II 6 NURSING 7113 Recognition & Response to Clinical Deterioration 3 Anaesthetic and Recovery Nursing
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value NURSING 7114 Introduction to Anaesthetic & Recovery Nursing 6 NURSING 7115 Specialised Anaesthetic & Recovery Nursing 6 NURSING 7116 Concepts Anaesthetics & Recovery Nursing Practice 3 Cardiac Nursing
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value NURSING 7031 Foundations of Critical Care 6 NURSING 7118 Critical Care Essentials 3 NURSING 7151 Cardiovascular Care 6 Emergency Nursing
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value NURSING 7031 Foundations of Critical Care 6 NURSING 7118 Critical Care Essentials 3 NURSING 7154 Emergency Nursing 6 Intensive Care Nursing
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value NURSING 7031 Foundations of Critical Care 6 NURSING 7118 Critical Care Essentials 3 NURSING 7136 Intensive Care II 6 Oncology Nursing
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value NURSING 7138 Haematology/Oncology Nursing I 6 NURSING 7139 Haematology/Oncology Nursing II 6 NURSING 7140 Haematology/Oncology Nursing Practice 3 Orthopaedic Nursing
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value NURSING 7141 Orthopaedic Trauma Nursing 3 NURSING 7142 Advanced Orthopaedic Nursing Practice I 3 NURSING 7143 Therapeutic Management of the Orthopaedic Patient 6 NURSING 7144 Advanced Orthopaedic Nursing Practice II 3 Perioperative Nursing
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value NURSING 7145 Introduction to Perioperative Nursing 6 NURSING 7152 Specialised Perioperative Nursing Practice 3 NURSING 7153 Concepts of Perioperative Nursing Practice 6 Non Specialist Nursing Science
In the case of Non Specialist Nursing Science, students must complete courses as approved by the Program Director to the value of 15 units from Stage 1 Specialisations or Stage 2 Electives.
-
Stage 2 Core Courses and Pathways
To satisfy the requirements for Stage 2 Masters, students must complete courses to the value of 24 units.
Students may elect to complete either the Research Dissertation Pathway or the Systematic Review Pathway.
Stage 2 Core Course
The following course must be completed.
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value NURSING 7030 Undertaking Nursing Research: Exploring issues in clinical practice 6 Research Dissertation Pathway
Note: To be eligible to graduate with the Master of Nursing Science in a specialty, students must undertake their research (12 units) in a topic related to the specialty.Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value NURSING 7021A Research Part I 0 NURSING 7021B Research Part II 0 NURSING 7021C Research Part III 0 NURSING 7021D Research Part IV 12 or
Systematic Review Pathway
All of the following courses must be completed:Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value NURSING 7012 Systematic Reviews of Research 3 NURSING 7013 Systematic Review Project 6 -
Stage 2 Elective courses
To satisfy the requirements for Stage 2 Masters, Elective courses to the value of 6 units for the Research Dissertation Pathway or 9 units for the Systematic Review Pathway must be completed.
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value NURSING 5104OL Microbiology and Epidemiology 6 NURSING 6117OL Infection Control Nursing 6 NURSING 6204 Co-Existing Addiction and Mental Health Disorders 6 NURSING 7011 Leadership & Management in Nursing 3 NURSING 7015 Applied Pharmacology in Nursing 3 NURSING 7113 Recognition & Response to Clinical Deterioration 3 NURSING 7116 Concepts Anaesthetics & Recovery Nursing Practice 3 NURSING 7140 Haematology/Oncology Nursing Practice 3 NURSING 7141 Orthopaedic Trauma Nursing 3 NURSING 7153 Concepts of Perioperative Nursing Practice 6 NURSING 7208 Aboriginal People and Health Care 3 or
Other courses may be taken from the Nursing Science program as approved by the Program Director.