The Master of Remote Health Practice: Nurse Practitioner is a 72-unit program which is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences through the Centre for Remote Health in Alice Springs.
The course articulates with the Graduate Certificate in Remote Health Practice, the Graduate Diploma in Remote Health Practice and the Masters of Remote and Indigenous Health and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the three awards.
The program was developed in collaboration with the Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia (now CRANA Plus) building on work with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied health (SARRAH) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). It is offered on an external basis through Flinders Learning Online and residential intensives.
Students who hold the graduate certificate or the graduate diploma are granted credit for topics already taken.
Admission requirements
Applicants must normally hold the Graduate Diploma of Remote Health Practice of this University or equivalent, or an approved degree or qualification deemed by the Admissions Committee to be an appropriate basis for this course of study and:
- be a registered as a nurse and hold a current practising certificate
- have two years clinical practice in the specialty area of remote area nursing
- provide a professional reference substantiating suitability of candidature
- be currently practicing in a remote context;
- have a completed and signed 'Clinical Support' form as evidence that their employer is willing to facilitate the extended clinical practice components of the course within their workplace and/or an affiliated health agency will facilitate the clinical practice in a supernumery capacity
Course aims
The Master of Remote Health Practice: Nurse Practitioner is designed for nurses experienced in working within the remote and Indigenous context to advance their knowledge of the discipline of Remote Health and seek recognition for their extended practice through undertaking Nurse Practitioner Candidature. The course aims to further extend their current knowledge within the framework of Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council Inc Nurse Practitioner competencies (ANMC, 2006) across four major content areas that underpin practice within the discipline of Remote Health locally, nationally and internationally. These content areas are:
- the remote context – an inseparable work and living environment characterised by unique cultural, linguistic, social, economic, geographical, and climatic conditions
- public health – a population based framework for planning, developing, managing and evaluating initiatives and programs to promote health and prevent disease
- remote Area Nurse Practitioner practice – dynamic practice, professional efficacy and clinical leadership for developing capability for autonomous and accountable Remote Area Nurse Practitioner practice
- application to practice – the inter-professional and profession specific skills, knowledge and attributes required for competent, confident, accountable remote and Indigenous health practice within a primary health care framework.
Learning outcomes
At the completion of the course students are expected to be able to:
- practice autonomously within their own professional boundaries, contributing unique skills and knowledge to the multi-disciplinary team providing health care within isolated, remote and Indigenous contexts;
- extend their knowledge of the remote context, social determinants and public health through development of research capabilities and clinical expertise
- apply knowledge and skills to work competently and confidently with the people and professionals of remote areas in the prevention and management of ill health within remote and Indigenous communities; in particular the Nurse Practitioner Candidate will exhibit
- dynamic practice that incorporates application of high level knowledge and skills in extended practice across stable, unpredictable and complex situations in remote areas
- dynamic practice that incorporates high level knowledge and skills in public health that facilitates client care, population health, disease prevention, health promotion, protection, surveillance, disease outbreak control in remote areas
- practice as an expert in their field with leadership capacities that will be applied in specific areas of remote health service delivery; in particular the Nurse Practitioner Candidate will exhibit
- clinical leadership that influences and progresses clinical care, policy and collaboration through all levels of remote health services
- listen well, respond constructively and convey their knowledge, understanding, reasoning and decision making in both written and spoken form and in a culturally safe manner
- advocate for sustainable, efficient, accessible and equitable health service delivery to improve health outcomes for remote, isolated, marginalised and Indigenous people worldwide
- possess a high level of resourcefulness in regards to organising their activities, prioritising their tasks, managing their time productively, and utilising goods and services in a socially and environmentally responsible way
- recognise that the world is dynamic and changing, and that isolated practice requires a commitment to continually updating skills and knowledge in response to the changing health technologies and health care needs of remote and Indigenous people locally, nationally and internationally
- work cooperatively and productively across the diverse geographical, cultural, social and economic settings of Remote and Indigenous Health practice showing respect to the ideas and perspectives of Indigenous persons and negotiating and resolving conflict or difficulties in a culturally safe and decolonising way; in particular the Nurse Practitioner Candidate will exhibit
- professional efficacy whereby practice is structured in a remote area nuring model within a primary health care framework and enhanced by autonomy, accountability and culturally safe practice.
Program of study
To qualify for the Master of Remote Health Practice: Nurse Practitioner, a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic according to the following program of study.
Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.
The research dissertation and elective topic must be chosen in consultation with the course coordinator and must be in an area relevant to the student's present or future practice.
Core - Year 1 & 2 topics
67.5 units comprising:
REMH8001 Context of Remote & Indigenous Health (4.5 units)
REMH8002 Remote & Indigenous Primary Health Care (4.5 units)
REMH8013 Public Health Principles for Remote Indigenous practice (4.5 units)
REMH8014 Ethics, Power and Practice (4.5 units)
REMH8015 Research and Evidence Based Decision Making (4.5 units)
REMH8022 Research and Evaluation for Remote & Indigenous Health (4.5 units)
REMH8018 Remote Health Management; policy and leadership (4.5 units)
REMH8023A Remote & Indigenous research dissertation (4.5 units)
REMH8006 Remote Advanced Nursing Practice & Pharmacotherapeutics 1 (4.5 units)
REMH8007 Remote Advanced Nursing & Family Practice (4.5 units)
HLTH8011A Remote Nurse Practitioner 1A– Family Nursing (3 units)
HLTH8011B Remote Nurse Practitioner 1B – Family Nursing (3 units)
HLTH9012A Remote Nurse Practitioner 2A– Chronic Disease and Ongoing conditions (3 units)
HLTH9012B Remote Nurse Practitioner 2B– Chronic Disease and Ongoing conditions (3 units)
HLTH9015A Remote Nurse Practitioner 3A – Extended Practice & Professional issues (3 units)
HLTH9015B Remote Nurse Practitioner 3B – Extended Practice & Professional issues (3 units)
HLTH9019 Pharmacotherapeutics 2 for extended practice (4.5 units)
plus 4.5 units chosen from:
Elective - Year 1 & 2 topics
REMH8020 Remote & Indigenous Health Promotion (4.5 units)
REMH8012 Project Management (4.5 units)
REMH8023B Remote and Indigenous Research Dissertation (4.5 units)*
REMH8025 Recognising and Responding to Dementia in Indigenous Communities (4.5 units)
REMH8026 Working with people with disabilities in Remote and Indigenous Contexts (4.5 units)
REMH8016 Foundations of Remote Health Management; People, Planning And Money (4.5 units)
REMH8017 Remote Health Services: Organisation, Resources and Workforce (4.5 units)
REMH8019 Health Economics (4.5 units)
REMH8024 Remote Primary Health Care Governance, quality and safety (4.5 units)
REMH8010 Remote and Indigenous Individual Practice (4.5 units)
REMH8008 Remote Child Protection Practice 1 (4.5 units)
*This topic may be taken in addition to REMH 8203A to complete a 9 unit research dissertation
Other topics may be selected from other programs within Flinders University and from other universities in consultation with the course coordinator.
Except with permission of the Faculty Board:
• the program must be completed within 12 consecutive semesters
• no topic may be attempted more than twice.
The award of a grade of Fail (F) in 18 or more units may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.
