What further qualifications are available?

Post-Graduate Qualifications

The required Bachelor of Nursing degree is the foundation for any future qualification within nursing. Postgraduate diplomas provide further vocational training for specialist areas. Masters level courses are available in both research and course work streams; a specialist course has been developed to provide preparation for registration as a nurse practitioner. Professional doctorates are also available.

Australia has a long tradition of post-basic courses, usually of a six month (minor) or twelve month (major) duration, which included midwifery, maternal and child welfare, psychiatric, perioperative, intensive care, and coronary care in later years, as well as a myriad of other courses. They are now provided by the university sector as postgraduate diplomas or post graduate certificates, depending on the length and complexity.

There are options available for hospital trained nurses to upgrade their qualifications to a Bachelor of Nursing (post registration). However, most opt instead to undertake specialist courses such as a postgraduate diploma or certification in the area of their clinical interest.

Nurse Practitioner

A recent development in the nursing profession is the introduction of Nurse practitioners into the healthcare community.

This is as a natural professional evolution and recognition of the outstanding clinical expertise some nurses have attained over the course of their careers in areas such as emergency or wound management, etc. Qualifying as a nurse practitioner allows nurses to advance their career while staying clinically focused.

The formal recognition of nurse practitioners permits duly educated and credentialed health care nursing professionals with autonomous practice rights within their particular area of expertise. This can include medication prescription rights.