*Courses/Units of credit: 7 courses/56 units of credit plus the equivalent of 2 courses/16 units of credit of approved prior study. Re-entry to practice: Midwives are required to complete 6 courses plus have 24 units of credit approved prior study.

This program is designed to meet the growing needs of registered nurses, practicing midwives and midwives returning to practice who wish to develop their knowledge and expertise in speciality areas of practice. The program uses a partnership model of graduate clinical education where the theoretical aspects offered through the university are integrated and assessed in the context of clinical practice.

Program objectives

The program is designed to enable clinicians to:

• Apply analytical and creative approaches to advanced practice
• Integrate epistemological, philosophical and advanced principles of health and human science to enhance practice
• Actively integrate evidence-based approaches within practice
• Promote the profession through practice, participation in professional activities and the development of peers.

To be eligible for an Award of Graduate Certificate in Clinical Practice (Specialisation) CF81 (24 units of credit) students must have completed one of the following which is equivalent to 16 units of credit:

• Specialisation Certificate/Module studies through the School of Nursing and Health Studies (CQU)
• Queensland Health Transition Program (in the area of specialisation)
• Certificate level studies from another approved provider (endorsed by the professional speciality) equivalent to those of the School of Nursing and Health Studies Certificate or Queensland Health Transition Programs.

PLUS

• NURS21153 Communication Skills for Advanced Professional Practice (8 units of credit)

Should an applicant seek a subsequent award in a second speciality, the equivalent of 16 unit points of the new speciality study must be completed (or evidenced) and a further 8 unit points of postgraduate study completed at CQU.

To be eligible for a midwifery refresher Award of Graduate Certificate in Clinical Practice (Midwifery) (refresher only), students must have completed a Certificate course in Midwifery and complete the following 3 core courses to a total value of 24 units of credit:

• MDWF20001 Professional Midwifery Studies
• MDWF20004 The Challenges of Midwifery Care
• MDWF20005 Midwifery Practice B

To be eligible for an Award of Graduate Diploma of Clinical Practice (Specialisation) CF80 (48 units of credit), students must have completed the Graduate Certificate or its equivalent plus the following 2 core courses and 1 approved elective.

• NURS21152 Evidence Based Practice
• NURS20129 Education in Non-Formal Settings
• Elective

The elective may be selected from any CQU postgraduate course or be an approved elective from another provider.

Should an applicant seek a subsequent award in a second speciality, the equivalent of 16 unit points of the new speciality study must be completed (or evidenced) and a further 24 unit points of postgraduate level study completed at CQU.

Master of Clinical Practice (Specialisation) CF79

To be eligible for an Award of Master of Clinical Practice (Specialisation) CF79, students must accumulate a total of 72 units of credit directly related to the area of specialisation.

• Specialisation Certificate/Module studies through the School of Nursing and Health Studies (CQU) or
• Queensland Health Transition Program (in the area of specialisation) or
• Certificate level studies from another approved provider (endorsed by the professional speciality) equivalent to those of the School of Nursing and Health Studies Certificate or Queensland Health Transition Programs.

PLUS

• NURS21153 Communication Skills for Advanced Professional Practice
• NURS21152 Evidence Based Practice
• NURS20129 Education in Non-Formal Settings
• Elective
• NURS21154 Clinical Project 1
• NURS21155 Clinical Project 2
• NURS21156 Clinical Project 3

Part-time students will usually enrol in 1 or 2 courses per term.

Master of Clinical Practice (Midwifery)

To be eligible for an Award of Master of Clinical Practice (Midwifery) CF79, students must accumulate a total of 72 untis of credit directly related to the area of midwifery. Students entering the Master of Clinical Practice (Midwifery) will need to have completed a Certificate in Midwifery (16 units of credit) or the equivalent.

Core courses are:

• Elective
• NURS21152 Evidence Based Practice
• NURS21153 Communication Skills for Advanced Professional Practice
• NURS20129 Education in Non-Formal Settings
• NURS21154 Clinical Project 1
• NURS21155 Clinical Project 2
• NURS21156 Clinical Project 3

Part-time students usually enrol in 1 or 2 courses per term.

Specialisation can be selected from:

• Acute Cardiac Nursing
• Perioperative Nursing
• Wound Management
• Gerontological Nursing
• Neonatal Nursing
• Paediatric Nursing
• Catheter Laboratory Nursing
• Midwifery
• General Practice Nursing
• Child & Adolescent Nursing