MHN Incentive Program
POSTGRADUATE MENTAL HEALTH NURSING COURSES (As at June 2007)
The PDF below contains a list of courses that may be of interest for nurses wishing to undertake postgraduate studies in mental health nursing.
If you are planning to undertake a postgraduate course in mental health nursing for the purposes of credentialing as a specialist mental health nurse, the minimum qualification is a graduate diploma in mental health nursing. Some Master degree courses offer exit points at graduate diploma level and graduate certificate level. A graduate certificate alone is insufficient for the purposes of credentialing.
If you choose an alternative course of study to a graduate diploma in mental health nursing, and wish submit an application for credentialing as a mental health nurse, you will need to put forward a case for equivalence of your qualifications. Please check the guidelines for applications for further information.
Each University conducts its own course based on its own requirements. Therefore, courses vary in their structure and content and it is recommended that the following elements be investigated when you are choosing a course.
The elements below will assist you in identifying a course that is mental health nursing specific. Information about each course should be sought from the relevant University.
- The title of the course includes the terms “mental health nursing” or “psychiatric nursing”.
- The course is provided through the department/school of nursing or nursing and midwifery in the relevant University.
- There are units in the course which require you to undertake, and be assessed on clinical nursing practice in a mental health setting. This may be undertaken while you are working in a mental health nursing setting or the units may be specifically related to clinical practice.
- At least four of the units of the course are specifically about mental health nursing. Some courses will include generic or core units such as research/evidence based practice, or contemporary nursing.
Scholarships are available in each state and territory usually for employees of the relevant departments of health. The Commonwealth Government also offers scholarships. This information can be found on the College website.
