Curtin University
Master of Advanced Practice (Critical Care Nursing)
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Develop advanced critical care nursing, evidence translation, clinical leadership and applied research capabilities to support complex decisions and improvements in specialty practice.
Course overview
Critical care nursing requires advanced knowledge and the ability to make informed decisions in complex clinical situations. Curtin’s Master of Advanced Practice (Critical Care Nursing) is designed for registered nurses seeking to extend their specialist practice, leadership and research capabilities.
You will examine normal homeostatic function alongside the pathophysiology, pathogenesis and aetiology of critical conditions. The course explores the interventions and management strategies used to restore homeostasis, together with complex clinical decision-making, patient advocacy and holistic specialty practice.
Your specialist learning is supported by evidence-informed clinical practice, healthcare policy and qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research. An applied research project enables you to investigate an area connected to critical care nursing and consider how evidence can be translated into clinical practice.
The Master of Advanced Practice is based at Curtin Perth, while the Critical Care Nursing specialisation is delivered online on a part-time basis and requires concurrent employment in an approved critical care setting. Depending on prior qualifications, the master can typically be completed in one or two years of full-time equivalent study. By combining critical care expertise with clinical leadership and applied research, graduates can strengthen their contribution to complex decision-making and improvements in evidence-informed specialty practice.
Key facts
12th July, 2027
What you will study
To earn the Master of Advanced Practice (Critical Care Nursing), you must successfully complete units totalling 200 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 25 credit points.
Core units
- Evidence-Informed Clinical Practice
- Health Research Professional Project (50 credit points)
- Research and Evaluation in Health
Critical Care Nursing Specialisation
- Advanced Clinical Nursing Science 1
- Advanced Clinical Practice 1
- Advanced Clinical Practice 2
- Advanced Clinical Nursing Science 2
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To be eligible for this course, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor's degree and registration as a general nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
- Have at least three years of relevant post-bachelor professional experience, including a minimum of 12 months in a specialist area of practice and be concurrently employed for at least 24 hours per week in an approved clinical setting.
English language requirements
Curtin requires applicants to demonstrate English language proficiency. You can meet this requirement by providing evidence of one of the following:
- An IELTS Academic overall band score of 6.5, with a minimum score of 6.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
- An alternative English language test accepted by Curtin, provided you achieve the required equivalent scores.
- An eligible previous qualification or another form of English language evidence accepted by Curtin.
Contact the university or visit its website for more information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Apply discipline knowledge, principles and concepts in accordance with relevant practice codes, standards and legislation.
- Apply critical thinking and reflective practice to clinical practice to generate innovative solutions.
- Access, evaluate and synthesise information relevant to clinical leadership and the promotion of optimal outcomes for clients.
- Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with clients, carers, families, communities and the interdisciplinary health care team.
- Utilise technology safely and appropriately for the diagnosis and management of clients.
- Participate in research, critically appraise research findings and incorporate evidence-based knowledge into clinical practice.
- Relate policy, practices and standards to international trends.
- Demonstrate cultural competence in the care of all clients, families and communities.
- Demonstrate professional, legal and ethical accountability within the scope of practice for safe health care delivery.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $29,330 (Full-fee paying place)
Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- The number of units studied.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
