Best Masters of Nursing Online in Australia

A Clinical Nurse Specialist is an advanced role defined in nurse pay agreements in Victoria and NSW. To qualify for these higher-pay designations, postgraduate education is almost essential.

To become a Clinical Nurse Specialist, you must showcase expert clinical skills, leadership capabilities, and a strong contribution to patient care and nursing practices. The role requires substantial experience in a specialised nursing field, ongoing professional development, and the skills to guide and instruct junior nursing staff.

Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) is a leadership position within a nursing unit or area of practice. It is defined or referred to in most state public sector enterprise bargaining agreements for nurses and is normally a level above Clinical Nurse Specialist. The role of a CNC is to provide expert clinical advice, lead quality improvement initiatives, and manage complex patient cases. CNCs are also responsible for strategic planning and the implementation of best practices in patient care.

A nursing master's is almost essential to compete successfully for CNC positions. Candidates are expected to have extensive clinical experience, demonstrate advanced clinical and leadership capabilities, and show a proven track record in their specialisation. A postgraduate education helps develop the knowledge, research skills, and clinical expertise to excel in this advanced practice nursing role.

Related: What Is a Clinical Nurse Consultant in Australia?

If you're keen on stepping up in the healthcare world and assuminig leadership positions, a postgraduate degree in nursing is a smart move. Focusing on Leadership and Management in your studies can set you up for more senior roles.

As noted by Your Career, nurse managers oversee services in hospitals, aged care homes, and community health centres. Their job includes overseeing the staff, keeping the budget in check, and ensuring everyone receives safe and efficient care. They also focus on maintaining high standards of care, meeting clinical benchmarks, and encouraging professional development among the nursing staff.

Related: How to Become a Nurse Unit Manager in Australia

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse who is experienced in their clinical specialty and educated at a master's level. The NP is also endorsed by the Nurses and Midwives Board of Australia to deliver patient care in advanced and extended clinical capacities.

By gaining extra clinical and academic education, you extend what you're able to do professionally. You're able to assess patients and diagnose health problems to a greater extent than is ordinarily allowed. For example, nurse practitioners may work in primary health care supporting GP-led general practice teams. NPs are the highest-paid nurses in Australia.

According to NSW Health, extra elements of professional practice include being able to:

• do advanced health assessments
• commence and interpret diagnostic investigations such as imaging and pathology
• diagnose health problems
• implement therapeutic regimens in collaboration with patients, health professionals and families/carers
• prescribe medications
• initiate and receive appropriate types of referrals.

For endorsement as a nurse practitioner, you need to complete an approved Master of Nurse Practitioner or similar degree.

A mental health nurse is specialised in the care of people experiencing psychological illness or distress. To qualify in this field, you need a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing or a specialist master's degree.

By working in this area, you may benefit from solid employment growth and high average salaries. These nurses may support clients suffering from conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. A key part of the job is to promote well-being generally, including in terms of psychological, emotional and physical health.

Mental health nurses need to understand psychological conditions, how symptoms can be managed, and how to adjust care for the needs of individual clients. They work in many health care settings, including hospitals, aged care and psychiatric facilities.

A nurse educator supports learning for nurses in the workplace and generally makes sure that nurses keep up to date with advances in their profession. A nurse educator may design, plan, instruct and assess education and learning in hospitals and other health care facilities. They also encourage, plan and facilitate professional development and clinical education.

Education is important in this occupational field since it's essentially all about further education of fellow professionals. A masters specialising in Nursing Education is highly advantageous.

Related: Clinical Nurse Educator Role in Australia