Queensland University of Technology
Master of Nursing (Acute Care Nursing)
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 18 months
An advanced program that equips registered nurses with the expertise to provide specialised care to patients in acute and critical care settings.
Course overview
The Master of Nursing course offers a variety of career pathways for nurses working in diverse settings and provides opportunities for in-depth study for advanced competence in selected areas of nursing practice. You will have the option to study either the coursework stream or the dissertation stream. The coursework stream is recommended for nurses who wish to pursue careers as nurse unit managers, clinical nurse consultants, directors of nursing, or clinical nurse educators. Additional electives are available to students undertaking the coursework stream. The dissertation stream is recommended for nurses wishing to pursue a career as a nurse researcher, nurse academic or progress to a PhD.
Acute Care Nursing
In the Master of Nursing (Acute Care Nursing) program, students will complete studies in advanced health assessment and nursing practice, as well as issues and trends in acute care nursing and critically analyse the advanced concepts that underpin this specialist area. Students will initiate plans of care to address everyday needs/problems experienced by acute patients.
To qualify for this program, you must have three months of FTE (full-time equivalent) of minimum recent registered nursing experience (within two years). Examples include, but are not limited to, acute medical-surgical, rehabilitation, orthopaedic, community and residential, general practice, renal and chronic care settings.
Flexible delivery
Whether you prefer to study full-time or part-time, online or on campus, QUT’s Master of Nursing offers you the flexibility to align your studies with your other personal and professional commitments. The university offers both February and July (mid-year) intakes.
QUT's programs offer students a supportive, flexible learning environment that integrates online technologies and promotes a socially collaborative community. External students are supported with an extensive learning package of electronic resources.
Key facts
What you will study
To complete the Master of Nursing (Acute Care Nursing), students must fulfil 144 credit points. Students must choose a dissertation stream or a coursework stream. Unless otherwise indicated, each unit is worth 12 credit points.
Core units
- Leadership in Nursing
- Evidence-based Practice and Research Design
- Dissertation Preparation
- Dissertation (48 credit points)
Acute care nursing specialisation units
- Contemporary Issues in Acute Nursing
- Specialist Acute Nursing Practice
Electives
- Complete two units in research methods, totalling 24 credit points.
- Complete one unit in the postgraduate nursing list, totalling 12 credit points.
Entry requirements
To be eligible for admission to this course, you must have one of the following:
- A recognised bachelor's degree (or higher) in nursing.
- Current registration as a Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be able to have your past studies or work experience count as credit towards your QUT course. QUT call this ‘advanced standing’. That means you might not have to complete all the units in your course structure. You may be able to graduate sooner. Exemptions are assessed individually – talk to QUT's Course Consultant for more information.
Outcomes
The Master of Nursing prepares you for leadership roles in specialist areas of health care. Graduates will demonstrate leadership of teams, autonomy, expert judgement and the agility to improve healthcare outcomes and service delivery models.
Upon completion, you will:
- Be a leader who facilitates nursing and interprofessional team collaborations to deliver person-centred health care outcomes.
- Apply specialist knowledge and skills to initiate and improve sustainable, digitally enhanced health service delivery.
- Communicate effectively in various contexts and media, using your influence to advocate for ethical, evidence-based and culturally appropriate change.
- Critically reflect on your practice, integrating various perspectives and approaches to health care that embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and diverse perspectives.
In transitioning to be a nurse leader, you will develop skills to inform research, leadership, education and management of dynamic health care contexts.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $27,900 (domestic full-fee paying place).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 96 credit points per year.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
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.
