Information for Prospective Students (July 2015)

The Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)Program is accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

The Nurse Practitioner Program Introduction The Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) Program has been developed according to the Nurse Practitioner national standards and criteria for the accreditation of nursing and midwifery courses leading to registration, enrolment, endorsement and authorisation in Australia (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council 2009). The program is designed to enable graduates to develop the expanded and extended practice practice competencies necessary to functon as safe and competent nurse practitioners and demonstrate achievement of the Nurse Practitioner Standards for Practice (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2013). Graduates of the program will be eligible to apply for endorsement as a Nurse Practitioner with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). While successful completion of an NMBA approved Nurse Practitioner program of study at master’s level meets one of the requirements for endorsement, graduates intending to apply to the NMBA for endorsement as a Nurse Practitioner must also meet the other requirements for endorsement as set out by the NMBA. It is strongly recommended that intending applicants familiarise themselves with these requirements which can be located on the NMBA website at http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/ Program Learning Environment The Program is delivered through the University’s online learning platform, LearnOnline, supplemeted by on campus compulsory workshops for some courses. Prospective students are advised that broadband internet access is required. Further information about the online learning environment will be provided at the orientation workshop. Orientation Workshop Following admission and enrolment, students will be informed of the date for the orientation workshop. The orientation workshop will introduce students to the online learning environment, University systems, processes and student support resources relevant to their program of study, provide an overview of the program, including compulsory workshops and include sessions related to academic writing and referencing. Students will also have the opportunity to meet staff teaching in the program and other students undertaking the program.

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The following section provides detailed information about the processes to assess appplicants for admission to the program. Section 1 Assessment for admission to the program Introduction The following guidelines set out the process for assessing applications for entry to the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner). Intending applicants should review the information provided about the program in the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) Guide available for purchase from newsagents and on the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) program home page on the University of South Australia website accessible at http://programs.unisa.edu.au/public/pcms/program.aspx?pageid=243&sid=299 Entry requirements for the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) All applicants must: • be Registered Nurses holding a current Practising Certificate with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA); and • hold a three (3) year undergraduate degree and a Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate or equivalent in the relevant speciality area of practice. Additional Requirements: To be accepted into the program, applicants must also meet the following additional requirements • Establish a Clinical Support Team in their specialty area of practice to assist them in the development and extension of their specialist practice (see Rule 1 on the program home page). Clinical support team members must meet the criteria set out in the Clinical Support Team Handbook and reproduced in section 2 of this document to be eligible for the role. • The Clinical Support Team members will need to be approved by the Program Director (PD) • Applicants will be expected to have a minimum of five (5) years full-time equivalent experience as a Registered Nurse, including three (3) years full-time equivalent as a Registered Nurse in a specialty area and one (1) year full-time equivalent at an advanced practice level, in the relevant specialty area of practice. • At the time of application to SATAC GradStart, applicants must also submit the following documents electronically to the Program Director: o Employer Support from which certifies employer support of the applicant o Completed support form from each of the proposed members of the Clinical Support Team o Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) The following sections provide a detailed explanation of how these entry requirements are assessed as a part of the application process.

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Process for assessing applications Following processing of the application by SATAC, the Program Director (PD) for the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) liaises with the Division of Health Sciences Admissions Officer and reviews all submitted application documentation to ascertain whether applicants meet the entry requirements for the program. Where the applicant meets all entry requirements verified as follows they will be admitted to the program 1. Is currently registered as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia 2. hold a three (3) year undergraduate degree and a Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate in the relevant speciality area of practice 3. Verified CV indicating a minimum of five (5) years full-time equivalent experience as a Registered Nurse, inclusive of three (3) years full-time equivalent as a Registered Nurse in a specialty area and one (1) year full-time equivalent at an advanced practice level in the relevant specialty area of practice. 4. Signed employer support form certifying that 4.1 the applicant has practised at an advanced practice level for a minimum of one (1) year as per the following definition of advanced practice contained in the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council Competency Standards for the Nurse Practitioner Advanced practice nursing defines a level of nursing practice that uses extended and expanded skills,experience and knowledge in assessment, planning, implementation, diagnosis and evaluation of thenursing care required. Nurses practising at this level are educationally prepared at postgraduate level and may work in a specialist or generalist capacity. However, the basis of advanced practice is the high degree of knowledge, skill and experience applied in the nurse-patient/client relationship to achieve optimal outcomes through critical analysis, problem solving and accurate decision-making (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) 2006). 4.2 the applicant will be supported to continue practising at an advanced practice level for the duration of their program of study (see employer support form) 5. Signed clinical support team forms indicating support of appropriately qualified health professionals as per the Criteria for selection of Clinical Support Team members set out in section 2 of this document. Please include a brief CV of proposed clinical support team members including qualifciations. Clinical support team members will need to be approved by the Program Director which will include verification of their qualifications and experience. Applicants who meet all other entry criteria but are having diifficulty identifying appropriately qualified support team members should contact the PD. It is expected that applicants who meet entry requirements as specified above will revise previous knowledge and skills prior to commencing the program. It is recognised that some applicants may wish to refresh/update their knowledge base prior to undertaking the program. While there are no refresher courses or online resources specifically designed as foundational resources for prospective students, those who self-assess that they require such foundational knowledge can enrol in stand-alone courses (subjects) offered in the Division of

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Health Sciences. Applicants who wish to refresh/update their knowledge base by enrolling in stand alone courses should contact the PD to discuss their requirements. Specific courses (subjects) that may be relevant include pathophysiology and pharmacology. Process for Assessing Equivalence Where an applicant does not hold a Bachelor Degree and/or a Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate in the relevant speciality area of practice, the PD will undertake an assessment of the applicant’s experience,education and training to determine equivalence for entry to the program. The applicant will be required to attend an interview with the PD which may be in person or by telephone or other means (e.g. Skype) At the interview, the PD will closely interrogate the CV submitted by the applicant so as to evaluate their equivalence for admission. Areas receiving close scrutiny will include (but not be limited to): • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Positions held by the applicant and experience in those positions Length of time in an advanced practice role Whether the applicant is currently in a nurse practitioner candidate position Continuing professional development attended Awards/Scholarships ( e.g. premiers travelling scholarship) Professional Credentialling Participation in research Participation in education of other nurses/health professionals Adjunct positions held with universities Publications/ conference papers Participation in organisational committees Membership of professional organisations and level of involvement in professional activities Commmittee memberships external to their employing organisation /roles on committees Involvement in development of practice tools such as clinical guidelines, policies and procedures Review of papers/documents/reports developed by the applicant in their professional roles to asess the applicant’s academic writing Any other areas presented in the applicant’s CV

Names of referees and other documentation/evidence may be sought to verify information provided in the interview/CV. The PD will also discuss what admission on the basis of equivalence means – i.e. that the applicant is assumed to have foundational knowledge and competencies equivalent to a bachelor degree undergraduate education and assumed advanced knowledge and competencies equivalent to a graduate qualification in their specialty area of practice. The PD will also inform the applicant of the academic standard expected when studying at masters level. Where gaps or deficts in the knoweldge base/competencies/academic abilities are identified, these will be closely interrogated by the PD. Applicants will not be admitted to the program unless the PD is satisifed that they possess equivalent assumed knowledge and competencies to be able to meet the standard of academic and clinical performance expected when studying at masters level. Applicants who require foundational knowledge or need to audit courses to meet entry criteria will be advised of stand-alone courses (subjects) offered in the Division of Health Sciences to enable them to update their knowledge/skills to met entry requirements. Information will be provided about courses (subjects) relevant to their specific needs. Information for Prospective Students

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Section 2 : Clinical Support Team Information Clinical Support Team: Roles and responsibilities Each student’s clinical support team will provide learning and teaching support through supervision, monitoring, supporting and reviewing the extended practice aspects of the student’s role, including conducting formative and summative clinical assessments in NURS 5135 Advanced Health Assessment, Diagnostics and Investigations, Nurse Practitioner Internship 1 NURS 5139 and Nurse Practitioner Internship 2 NURS 5140. Clinical support team members may also be invited to contribute to the development of workshops and assessment criteria for the courses NURS 5135 Advanced Health Assessment, Diagnostics and Investigations, and PHAR 5052 Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics for Nurse Practitioners to ensure that content and assessments are clinically relevant, as well as support the student to meet their learning objectives in NURS 5137 Clinical Inquiry, and NURS 5069 Project 1A. For both Nurse Practitioner Internship 1 NURS 5139 and Nurse Practitioner Internship 2 NURS 5140 courses, students will undertake supervised clinical activities in the workplace that are an extension to the Registered Nurse scope of practice. These extended practice activities include referral of patients to other health care professionals, requesting diagnostic tests, prescribing medications and performing specific interventions related to their specialty area of practice. The approach to clinical learning involving supported immersion in the extended role expected of Nurse Practitioners has been demonstrated as effective in achieving learning outcomes and ensuring patient/client safety in the Australian health care context (Gardner & Gardner, 2005). Each student will already have nursing expertise in their relevant specialty field of health care. The purpose of the internship courses is to enable students to deepen and extend their knowledge and practice skills so as to demonstrate achievement of the ANMC National Competency Standards for the Nurse Practitioner. The role of the medical, nursing and allied health clinical expertise in the support team in these two workplace-based courses is to guide, instruct, supervise and support students in the development of these competencies. In addition to providing such clinical learning support, the clinical support team members also have specific responsibilities that must be met as described in the following sections of the handbook. Membership and time commitment of the Clinical Support Team The clinical support team will include an advanced health practitioner currently practicing the clinical skills that the student is required to develop (such as a medical practitioner or an experienced, endorsed Nurse Practitioner), an advanced practice nurse in the specialty area and other health professionals relevant to the service delivery team in the student’s specialty field of practice (such as relevant members of the allied health professions). This support team will work with the student to facilitate development of extended practice clinical skills and decision making. Students will work with relevant individual team members in their clinical practice on a daily basis and will initially meet weekly with the full clincial support team. The full team meetings may be rescheduled to fortnightly towards the end of the study period, depending on the progress of the student as evaluated by the team.

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Criteria for selection of Clinical Support Team members: • • • • • • • • • •

Current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (Nurses) or relevant Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency board (Medical or Allied Health Practitioner) Holds a qualification that is higher than or equal to a Masters degree The nurse team member must be a Nurse Practitioner or a Registered Nurse working in an advanced role Clinical expertise in the field of nursing, medicine or allied health Meets clinical privileges/requirements of the clinical venue of practice Educational experience and/or qualifications, particularly in practice-based education Ability to supervise and guide applicant’s clinical and professional practice throughout the program Commitment to support the applicant in developing their clinical competencies in an advanced practice role throughout the program Available to communicate regularly with the applicant face to face, by phone and electronically Able to sign a form indicating their agreement with this arrangement

Each team member will be approved by the Program Director on entry to the program and will be monitored throughout the program Nursing Team Member* Students are required to develop knowledge, skills, and practices commensurate with the expectations of the Nurse Practitioner role in the delivery of nursing care in their specialty field of practice. The clinical support team member will be expected to work with the student to maintain this focus and assist them to incorporate their extended care activities into a nursing model of practice. * Each team must include at least one (1) Nurse Practitioner or Registered Nurse practicing in an advanced role. Medical Team Member The medical member of the clinical support team will meet the legal requirements for the extended practice aspects of the student’s activities that relate to the Nurse Practitioner role, including activities of prescribing, requesting diagnostic tests and referral of patients/clients to other health professionals. Strategies for clinical learning related to these extended practice activities should be negotiated between the student and clinical support team and may include existing practices such as standing orders for medication management, case conferences led by the student as part of their role in the health care team, and shadowing the student to observe and monitor decision making in these extended areas of practice. Such strategies need to ensure that the student practises within the legislated parameters of nursing practice and that any activities extending this legislated scope are monitored and supported by a medical practitioner. Student and Clinical Support Team clinical expertise and legislation Students supported by their clinical support teams will have nursing expertise in the specialty field of health care. The purpose of the two (2) internship courses is to enable students to deepen and extend their knowledge and practice skills to meet the requirements of the Nurse Practitioner role Information for Prospective Students

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as demonstrated by their achievement of the ANMC National Competency Standards for the Nurse Practitioner. The nursing, medical and allied health clinical expertise in the support team will guide, instruct, supervise and support the student to develop these competencies. In addition to providing such clinical learning support, team members are required to meet further specific obligations. Academic Liaison for Clinical Support Teams Each student will be assigned an Academic Supervisor employed by the University. The Academic Supervisor, in conjunction and consultation with the Course Coordinator, is responsible for oversight of the student’s academic progress and management of the logistical issues related to their internship. The student will hold regular meetings/consultations with their Academic Supervisor, as negotiated. The Academic Supervisor will also act as the University liaison for the clinical support team and be available for meetings and consultations with the members of the clinical support team. Arrangements for contact between the Academic Supervisor and the Clinical Support Team members will be negotiated at the beginning of each semester. The academic supervisor has a commitment to the Nurse Practitioner student and the clinical support team throughout each Internship course. The role and responsibilities of the academic supervisor are detailed below. • • • •

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Venue visit by week two (2) to establish clinical team responsibilities and provide the initial clinical support team information session Arrange dates/times for the interim venue visits and progress reports with the clinical support team Report any changes to the clinical support team arrangements to the course coordinator as soon as practicable. Establish liaison with the clinical support team nurse representative and ensure fortnightly contact with the nurse representative and student, the purpose of which is to: o confirm that student has opportunities for appropriate clinical experience o identify organisational/personal/professional barriers to progress and collaboratively implement strategies to resolve barriers such For both Internship courses, the academic supervisor will attend the clinical case presentation, and summative clinical assessment review meeting.

Useful UniSA resources are listed in each Internship Course Information Book, a copy of which will be provided to each member of the clinical support team.

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References Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council 2009 Nurse Practitioners: Standards and criteria for the accreditation of nursing and midiwfery courses leading to registration, enrolment, endorsement and authorisation in Australia- with evidence guide. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council , Canberra. Available at http://www.anmc.org.au/userfiles/file/ANMC_Nurse_Practitioner(1).pdf Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia 2013 Nurse Pracititonber Standards for Practice. Available at http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/CodesGuidelines/nurse-practitioner-standards-of-practice.aspx

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