A first in nursing for the University of Queensland in 2000

A first in nursing for the University of Queensland in 2000

The University of Queensland will break new ground next year when it introduces a course providing postgraduate training for nurses.

The University's first Graduate Certificate in Health Studies (Nursing) has been introduced to meet a need identified by healthcare managers and senior nursing professionals.

The certificate has been developed in conjunction with the Australian Catholic University (ACU), the Wesley Hospital, Mater Misercordiae Hospitals, Prince Charles Hospital and the District Health Service.

The course offers an innovative approach to postgraduate nursing education and places emphasis on key issues in health care in the new millennium, including evidence-based practice, research, management and decision making.

Professor Ken Donald, head of the University's Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, said the partnership between the University and the ACU provided an ideal platform from which to build a strong postgraduate nursing program.

"Rather than UQ and the ACU competing with each other to provide a similar course to a similar student body, the two institutions have decided to combine forces to provide a course more relevant to the needs of students by drawing on combined knowledge and resources," he said.

"This is a unique course. No other institution currently provides postgraduate nursing training of this nature."

To obtain the award, students will need to gain a total of 40 credit points from the two core subjects and two elective subjects taught through the UQ, and three elective subjects taught through the ACU's Nursing School. Each subject is worth 10 credit points.

UQ-based core subjects are: Critical Evaluation in Practice I (Action Research in Health Practice) and Introduction to Epidemiology, while one elective subject must be chosen from Critical Evaluation in Practice II (Evaluating Change in Health Systems) and Evidence Based Health Care.

One subject has also to be chosen from the three electives available through the ACU - Nursing Models and Theories; Policy Planning and Nursing; and Resource Management in Nursing.

The varied hours worked by nurses and the expected demand from nurses throughout Queensland and beyond will be met through a distance education package, including the provision of tutors and mentors.

For further information, please contact Scott McLennan on (07) 3365-5107.