Nursing at New Castle University

The School of Nursing and Midwifery is one of four schools within the Faculty of Health. The School has an innovative approach to undergraduate and graduate teaching. We enjoy close collaboration with local area health services in providing clinical learning experiences for students, in the provision of graduate programs and in the conduct of clinical research. We strive to prepare and develop nurses to function in a wide range of clinical settings, occupational health facilities and rehabilitation services.

Excellence in teaching and learning

At the School of Nursing and Midwifery, we commit to teaching and learning strategies which develop and enhance nursing knowledge and the full range of clinical and interpersonal skills needed by nurses to function as effective practitioners. We encourage and enhance the capacity for:

• independent and critical thought
• reflective practice
• commitment to life-long learning, and
• the ability to effect and cope with change

While not the only teaching strategies employed within the School, problem-based and student-directed learning are important features of teaching. The School offers courses in flexible delivery mode with many available online.

Global opportunities

The School has strong links with nurses in Europe and the East Asian region and provides both formal academic courses and tailor-made shorter programs of study for nurses and midwives from countries including:

• Singapore
• Korea
• Taiwan
• Hong Kong
• Indonesia
• Thailand
• Norway
• The Maldives
• South Africa
• Japan

The School provides the Australasian link for the International Institute for Qualitative Methodology located at the University of Alberta, Canada.

Bachelor of Nursing

Postgraduate Nursing and Midwifery (By Coursework)

The School of Nursing and Midwifery offers several postgraduate coursework programs in the area of Nursing and Midwifery for Registered Nurses who wish to take their career to the next level.

Nursing (Advanced Practice)

The Master of Nursing (Advanced Practice) is intended for graduate nurses who wish to further their knowledge and advance their skills in a particular field of nursing practice. These courses will be of interest to nurses working in, or planning to move into clinical nurse specialist, clinical nurse consultant, clinical educator or clinical nurse manager positions.

Nursing (Advanced Practice) will also meet the needs of nurses who wish to develop their clinical practice, reflective and analytical skills, and become better informed clinicians. Nurses have the opportunity to advance their clinical practice skills and to develop leadership potential. Courses in the program are taught by nurse academics and specialty experts.

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.

Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)

Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) is designed for registered nurses who either wish to apply for authorisation by the NSW Nurses Registration Board to work as a Nurse Practitioner, or present the qualification to authorities in other states or countries. Content includes the preparation of a portfolio for submission for authorisation as a Nurse Practitioner. The program has a clinical practice focus in a specialised area of nursing, under the guidance of academic and clinical mentors.

Students are required to identify a clinical mentor and have them approved by the Program Convenor, and complete a minimum of 300 hours practical experience while enrolled. This can be undertaken at their regular place of employment.

Midwifery

The Master of Midwifery Studies program is designed for practising midwives, educators and midwifery managers. Pathways within the Masters of Midwifery allow students to develop particular strengths in the areas of clinical practice, midwifery management or preparation to conduct research. All graduates will have advanced knowledge and skills in midwifery, critical thinking, academic writing and evaluation of research as it informs practice.

Registered Midwives may also wish to consider a Masters by Research (Master of Philosophy in Midwifery: M.Phil (Midwifery). Registered Midwives with an Honours Degree or a Masters' with research courses may be eligible to apply for a Doctor of Philosophy in Midwifery: PhD(Midwifery).

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