The master of nursing (with specialisations) will start in March next year with the master of clinical nursing (nurse practitioner) course to start in July 2014.

Courses director Angela Bradley said the courses had both been designed in conjunction with registered nurses and other industry experts to ensure they are contemporary and relevant to rural and remote communities.

She said the master of nursing will offer three pathway choices - a speciality, professional or research pathway.

“Students can choose to exit at the graduate certificate or graduate diploma levels or go on to complete the full master of nursing,” Ms Bradley said.

She said the master of nursing will offer specialisations in emergency, chronic and complex care, primary healthcare, mental health, and palliative care nursing.

The master of clinical nursing course will have a focus on developing advanced knowledge and skills for research and professional practice, and lead to a new scope of practice as a nurse practitioner.

“Graduates from this course will demonstrate an advanced and integrated knowledge in evidence based practice, assessment, pharmacology, nursing speciality subjects, diagnostic reasoning, clinical and professional leadership and advanced professional practice,” said Ms Bradley.

Ms Bradley said an important aspect of the course will be the involvement of the patient, their carer and the family in all aspects of their health care experience.

“This is a brilliant development in nursing professionalism which will lead to improved patient care,” Ms Bradley said.

“Having nursing staff qualified to a masters level will further enhance nursing knowledge and care delivery.

“The announcement of a local nurse practitioner university course will offer a new level of career progression for our staff,” she said.