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The Graduate Diploma of Nursing (Neonatal Care)

The Graduate Diploma of Nursing (Neonatal Care) is offered at the Centre for Graduate Studies in Clinical Nursing, which is located at the Monash Medical Centre, Clayton Campus. This course is designed for registered nurses who are committed to, and pursuing a career in caring for ill and/or premature neonates and the family. The overall aim of the course is to prepare specialist clinical nurses who are able to provide comprehensive care for neonates, and the family, within a variety of neonatal environments. On completion of the course it is expected that students will be able to:

  • demonstrate advanced practice skills enabling them to plan, implement and evaluate complex neonatal care;
  • establish caring relationships which reflect a family centred philosophy;
  • utilise research to improve nursing practice and client outcomes;
  • act as professional role models and mentors for less experienced colleagues;
  • critically reflect on their own practice in order to maintain high standards of care and identify ongoing professional development needs; and
  • evaluate a range of professional and health care issues, and formulate appropriate strategies that promote the development of neonatal nursing practice.

The course features the integration and application of theory with clinical practice. It offers a curriculum based on nursing and biomedical models. Also it provides opportunities to increase the status and expand nursing practice in neonatal nursing. To complete the Graduate Diploma of Nursing (Neonatal Care), students will enrol in 8 subjects. Part-time students will complete 2 subjects each semester over 2 years. These are normally timetabled in 2 days per week so that they can be employed part-time. Alternatively, from 1998 students may enrol full-time and complete the course in 1 year. The subjects, which all have a clinical component, are outlined as followed:

SPECIALTY SUBJECTS

  • Nature & Science of the Child. This subject covers knowledge of fetal and child anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, incorporating concepts relating to inflammation, immunodeficiency, hypoxia, ischaemia and fluid balance.
  • The Growing Child & Family. Concepts such as growth and development of the child, family life, roles, relationships, parenting, health assessment and the promotion of child and family health are explored with a framework of family centred care.
  • Child Health Crises. This subject highlights the impact a health crisis has on the growing child and family. Dimensions of nursing care and therapeutic interactions are framed within the context of family centred care.
  • Neonatal Nursing 1. This subject aims to introduce and develop nursing concepts, principles and strategies necessary to provide therapeutic nursing care for the ill and/or premature neonate and the family. It will draw upon previously learned concepts to examine aspects of prematurity, or problematic adaptation to extra-uterine life, and the consequential pathophysiological processes which may arise. The particular emphasis will be on the development of nursing assessment, intervention and evaluation skills essential to providing supportive care for the neonate and the family.
  • Neonatal Nursing 2. This subject will further develop nursing concepts, principles and strategies necessary to provide therapeutic nursing care for the ill and/or premature neonate and the family. The complexities of planning transitional and discharge care, dealing with the experiences of loss and grief, and the management of ethical dilemmas are emphasised. Students will consolidate nursing assessment, intervention and evaluation skills essential to providing supportive care for the neonate and the family.

RESEARCH & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUBJECTS

  • Research Utilisation. Knowledge of research will be built upon to encourage students to use research as a means of improving nursing practice.
  • Health, Caring, Environment and Technology. Students explore the impact that technology, economics, politics and geography have on human caring practices.
  • Research in Health Care Environments. Research approaches are explored within the context of organisational behaviour and change.

A variety of teaching methods are used in the course. These will include: lectures, group discussion, problem-based strategies, seminars, tutorials, self-initiated learning activities, objective-driven clinical practice, demonstrations, clinical observation, supervised patient care. In line with University courses, the students undertake their learning during two semesters each year. The students are unpaid for their course work. That is, both the study day and clinical day. This allows the students to be supernumerary in the clinical environment. Thus, they will be able to meet the clinical learning requirements of each subject. The clinical day for each student will predominantly occur within Newborn Services. Additional facilities within the Southern Health Care Network and other relevant neonatal environments will be utilised whenever applicable.

Employment is available for students of this course in Newborn Services. The successful students will be employed for a minimum of two, eight hour shifts per week. On these days they are regarded as staff members, not as students, although it is appreciated that they will still be learning. Support for the students on employment days will be the responsibility of Newborn Services. A preceptorship program will be implemented for the students.

Requirements for Admission

Successful applicants will normally have a degree, a current RN practising certificate, and at least one year relevant professional clinical experience. Special entry to the course is available. The closing date for applications is the last Friday in September each year.

Fees

The course fees are set each year by the university. In 1997, the cost per subject is $650. A yearly student amenities fee of approximately $202 also applies. Course fees may be tax deductible.

Lecturer

Alison Medhurst, Coordinator & Lecturer, Graduate Diploma of Nursing (Neonatal Care), Centre for Graduate Studies in Clinical Nursing, Monash University.

  
Neonatal Information