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Program focus

Upon successful completion of this program, registered nurses will have the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to practise as specialist mental health nurses in primary, secondary and tertiary settings.

This program prepares nurses to practise as Mental Health Nurses and enables them to work as clinically skilled members of mental health teams in developing and established services.

Program aims

The aims of this course are to enable the graduate to:

• generate and apply knowledge about the biological, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual aspects of the human experience of health and illness

• work towards empowering individuals, groups and communities to achieve, maintain and restore optimal health

• gain advanced knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to practice as a specialist mental health nurse in primary, secondary and tertiary settings

• develop an awareness of the implications for mental health care of the cultural and linguistic diversity of Australian society and gain the knowledge and skills required to provide culturally appropriate care to individuals and groups

• gain advanced knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to contribute to the attainment of the national and state goals for mental health in keeping with the strategic directions of the Health Department

Program objectives

The program objectives incorporate the ideals of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and the Department of Nursing and Midwifery. Successful completion of the program will enable graduates to:

• provide primary, secondary and tertiary interventions using a variety of treatment modalities to promote the health and wellness of individuals, families and communities

• practise within accepted legal and ethical frameworks

• critically analyse information relevant to their profession i.e. clinical data, government policy, research findings, and apply this knowledge to their practise area

• develop a professional identity including independence, interdependence, authority and partnership and contribute to the ongoing development of the mental health nursing and mental health care.

Admission requirements

Applicants meeting the following criteria may be accepted into the program:

• Registered Nurse (You will need to provide a certified copy of your current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) with a three-year degree or diploma from an Australian ¾«¶«´«Ã½app or an equivalent qualification.

• Evidence of current employment in a mental health service as a registered nurse or of at least 12 months experience working in a mental health service.

Registered Nurses who wish to gain entry to the program on the basis of equivalent experience or qualifications or who have not studied an appropriate research methods course may be required to complete the course before being admitted to the program.

How to apply

Domestic students

may be made directly to USQ.

Program fees

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .
Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.
Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

Program structure

The program consists of eight courses each worth one unit, four focusing specifically on mental health nursing. In the remaining four courses the focus of the assessment will be on mental health nursing.

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 4 years to complete this program.

Clinical requirements

There are no clinical requirements.

IT requirements

Students should visit the USQ to check that their computers are capable of running the appropriate software and versions of Internet web browsers and to check the minimum and recommended standards for software.

Residential schools

One course, , has a requirement for a five-day compulsory .

Articulation

A student completing all courses in the Postgraduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing program may apply to articulate into the Master of Nursing program, provided the student has not graduated from the Postgraduate Diploma. A student articulating to the higher degree will only receive the Master of Nursing award. Such students will be given full credit for all courses completed whilst studying the Postgraduate Diploma. Students must advise the Faculty in writing (sciences.support@usq.edu.au) of their intention to articulate and this must occur prior to graduation from the Postgraduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing.

Exemptions

Up to four exemptions may be applied for. However normally a student must complete at least six units of courses offered by USQ whilst enrolled in this program.

Recommended enrolment pattern