Master of Mental Health Nursing

The Master of Mental Health Nursing is intended for Registered Nurses wishing to undertake a specialist qualification in Mental Health Nursing. The main focus of the program is on clinical practice in an area of mental health service provision. In addition to providing foundational studies in Mental Health Nursing, the program also provides opportunities to study issues and topics of particular interest such as dual diagnosis, psycho-social and psycho-educational interventions, mental health care for older people, illness management and recovery and mental health in primary care.

Qualified mental health nurses are in very short supply in Australia and many other countries at a time in which innovative models of care are being introduced in public and private health services. The career development prospects for this exciting specialist field of nursing are thus excellent. In line with these new developments in mental health care, the main focus of the Master of Mental Health Nursing is on clinical practice in an area of mental health service provision. In addition to providing foundational studies in Mental Health Nursing, the program also provides opportunities to study issues and topics of particular interest such as dual diagnosis, psycho-social and psycho-educational interventions, mental health care for older people, illness management and recovery and mental health in primary care. The intention is to produce graduates who will be able to work effectively as mental health nurses in any health care location.

The program requires completion of 80 units and consists of prescribed mental health nursing and elective courses. A number of courses are offered in partnership with Hunter New England Area Mental Health Service and the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (located at Orange, NSW), and is offered online via GradSchool.com.

It is anticipated that the Master of Mental Health Nursing will be accepted as part of the credentialing procedure by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.

Employment as mental health nurses in a range of services locations. Mental health nurses work in a wide variety of service locations, in both the public and private sectors. The discipline is rapidly developing with new models of care being developed in areas such as rural mental health, child and adolescent mental health, mental health nursing in emergency departments and mental health nursing in primary care (general practice).

Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent.

Applicants without a Bachelor degree should consult the program convenor.

University rules allow for a maximum of 50% of external credit. Up to 40 units of credit may be awarded to applicants who have completed postgraduate coursework provided by recognized institutions (including Hunter New England Area Health Service, Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service, and universities).

Students must be able to negotiate an ongoing arrangement for mentoring/clinical supervision by a suitably qualified and experienced Registered Nurse.

If not employed in a mental health position, must be able to negotiate such access as required to complete the program.

Eligible to be employed as registered nurses in mental health nursing positions.

Graduates of the program are eligible to seek to be credentialed as mental health nurses under the Credentialing for Practice Program of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.

The program will be available to international students studying off-shore.

Several courses will have provision for intensive, on-site workshops. International students will not be eligible to enrol in these courses and are advised to check the requirements for all courses before enrolling.

The Faculty accepts that it is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations for students with special needs, in liaison with the Student Support Unit, which offers practical assistance and advice to students with a disability or chronic illness. The Faculty will seek advice from the Student Support Unit as to what constitutes "reasonable accommodations" under Anti-Discrimination legislation.

The program requires completion of 80 units: 20 units of Core Mental Health Nursing courses and 60 units of Directed Courses. The Directed Courses are from two groups, a minimum of 40 units of Group A Mental Health Nursing courses, and a maximum of 20 units of Group B Health courses. Students can choose to do 60 units from Group A Mental Health Nursing courses and none from Group B Health courses, to fulfil the required 60 units of Directed Courses.

A number of courses are offered in partnership with Hunter New England Area Mental Health Service and the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (located at Orange, NSW).

International students are advised to check the requirements for all courses before they enrol. A number of courses require attendence at onsite/residential sessions. International students will not be able to enrol in these courses.