Master of Advanced Nursing
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Advanced Nursing |
| Deakin course code | H777 |
| Course credit points | 12 |
| Course version | 1 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2023 onwards |
| Campus | This course is only offered Online |
| Duration | 1.5 years full-time or up to 3 years part-time. |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2027: Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Alternative exits
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Advance your nursing career with the Master of Advanced Nursing. Designed for registered nurses, this course builds advanced capability in clinical decision-making, leadership and evidence-based practice to support improved patient outcomes across complex healthcare environments.
Study at a university ranked #14 in the world for nursing and learn from experts shaping contemporary healthcare practice. You will explore advanced concepts, research and frameworks that underpin safe, high-quality and person-centred care. With a flexible structure, you can tailor your studies through elective units and choose between a coursework or thesis pathway aligned to your career goals. This course prepares you for senior roles across clinical practice, leadership, education, policy and research.
Indicative student workload
As an online student in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 11-13 hours every week studying, interacting via CloudDeakin and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course. Refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information.
Professional recognition
Nurses employed under the Victorian public hospital award receive a higher duties allowance for postgraduate qualifications relevant to their practice.
Graduates of this course may be eligible to seek endorsement as a nurse practitioner via Pathway 2 as outlined on the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) website.
Career opportunities
The healthcare industry is the largest growing employment industry in Australia. A number of roles within nursing are expected to grow significantly by 2028*, including:
Graduates of the Master of Advanced Nursing will be well placed to take advantage of this demand. Depending on the units you have completed, your expertise will allow you to pursue a range of roles, including:
- clinical nurse educator
- associate or unit manager
- research roles
* Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections
Participation requirements
At Deakin, we’re committed to creating an inclusive learning environment that supports all students to succeed. We work closely with students to identify and reduce barriers, and where possible, provide tailored support to help students engage with learning and assessment activities, ensuring every student has the opportunity to belong and thrive.
If you are disabled, neurodivergent, Deaf, and/or you live with the effects of a mental health condition, chronic health condition, or other condition that impacts your studies or participation in university life, we encourage you to reach out to our Disability Resource Centre for a collaborative and confidential discussion.
Alternative exits
| Graduate Certificate of Advanced Nursing (H575) | |
| Graduate Diploma of Advanced Nursing (H675) |
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Demonstrate expert clinical practice commensurate with nursing theoretical knowledge, evidence-based practice, and person-centred care. |
| Demonstrate expert communication skills to ensure the delivery of high quality, safe nursing care to patients. |
| Evaluate complex information using digital technologies to effectively disseminate relevant healthcare information to patients and/or the multidisciplinary team. |
| Analyse, evaluate and critique complex data from multiple sources to inform clinical decision making in the healthcare setting. |
| Apply expert nursing knowledge to complex problems in clinical practice to optimise patient outcomes. |
| Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, reflection, and personal autonomy as an expert nurse. |
| Establish, maintain, and lead inclusive, collaborative professional relationships with all members of the multidisciplinary team. |
| Demonstrate accountability for, and expert professional judgement in behaviours that uphold ethical principles of practice within diverse social, cultural, and environmental contexts. |
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Master of Advanced Nursing you must pass 12 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
A 12-credit point Master of Advanced Nursing includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
Coursework stream
- 3 credit points of core units
- 6 credit points of course electives
- 3 credit points of open electives.
Thesis stream
- 2 credit points of core units
- 4 credit points of thesis units
- 4 credit points of course electives
- 2 credit points of open electives.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Coursework pathway
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HNN714 | Ethical Dimensions in Nursing |
| HNN749 | Patient Safety and Risk Management |
| HNN778 | Research in Nursing and Midwifery |
Plus 9 credit points of electives, of which 6 must be from the course electives, the remaining 3 can be from any level 7 electives from anywhere in the university or Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials).
Thesis pathway
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HNN714 | Ethical Dimensions in Nursing |
| HNN749 | Patient Safety and Risk Management |
| HNN756 | Nursing Research Thesis A * |
| HNN757 | Nursing Research Thesis B * |
| HNN758 | Nursing Research Thesis C * |
| HNN759 | Nursing Research Thesis D * |
Plus 6 credit points of electives, of which 4 must be from the course electives, the remaining 2 can be from any level 7 electives from anywhere in the university or Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials).
* Note - Students may only undertake a thesis if they have met the academic entry requirements of an overall WAM of 65 (Credit) in their previous studies.
Course electives
| HND701 | Pathophysiology of Diabetes |
| HND702 | Management of Diabetes |
| HND731 | Contemporary Approaches to Diabetes Education |
| HND732 | Diabetes in Social and Psychological Contexts |
| HNN715 | Leadership and Management in Nursing |
| HNN730 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning |
| HNN754 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' Histories, Cultures and Health |
| HNN761 | Biopsychosocialspiritual Mental Health Nursing Assessment |
| HNN762 | Person-Centred Approaches to Engagement in Mental Health Nursing |
| HNN771 | Facilitating Clinical Learning |
| HNN772 | Healthcare in Low Resource/Complex Environments |
| HNN773 | Healthcare Management of Vulnerable Populations |
| HNN778 | Research in Nursing and Midwifery * |
| HNN780 | Quality and Safety in Medication Management |
| HNN781 | Therapeutic Medication Management |
| HNN782 | Recognising and Understanding Mental Illness |
| HNN783 | Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health Nursing |
| HNN789 | The Physical Health Needs of Persons with Mental Illness |
| HNN790 | Sustaining the Mental Health Nursing Workforce |
| IND734 | Australian Aboriginal Holistic Health and Healing |
*HNN778 is only an available course elective in the Thesis pathway, the unit is already a core unit in the Coursework pathway
Open Electives
Mix and match Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials) to earn up to 2-3 credit point(s) of open electives, subject to eligibility. Any stacking must add up to a whole number to be used for credit. See more information on Deakin stackable short course options.
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.