DETAILS ON LATROBE NURSE
PRACTITIONER MASTERS
For clinical/academic advice: Gerry
Lee (g.lee@latrobe.edu.au)
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For admin details and application
forms: Robin Owen 9479 5906 or
r.owen@latrobe.edu.au
THE NP MASTERS PROGRAM STRUCTURE3 CORE UNITS AND CLINICAL INTERNSHIP
[USUALLY TAKES 18 MONTHS TO 2 YEARS TO COMPLETE]
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CLINICAL INTERNSHIP OBJECTIVESAIMED TO AID STUDENT IN PREPARING PORTFOLIO FOR ENDORSEMENT
CLINICAL:
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Interdependently practice advanced
health assessment and diagnostic
skills
Develop and apply advanced clinical
knowledge and decision making skills
Select, perform and interpret
appropriate diagnostic & other
laboratory tests
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Apply pharmacological interventions
appropriately
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Compile & complete clinical log
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Integrate data from standardized
tests into patient care
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Use clinical decision making
processes
EVIDENCE BASED:

LEADERSHIP:
Implement evidence-based guidelines
for use in your practice

Demonstrate clinical leadership in
clinical practice
Develop professional
multidisciplinary relationships
Undertake continuous quality
evaluation
Utilize appropriate hospital and
community resources
Provide clinical & educational
support to nursing staff
Provide relevant health education &
health promotion
Provide clinical audit of workload of
patient/client group
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WHO SHOULD BE A MENTOR/WHAT NEEDS TO
BE DONE?
The student needs to
identify suitable
mentor(s)
 Within their specialty

(or suitable GP for rural)
Must be approved
director of nursing &/or
medical consultant
before internship starts
 Clinical agency needs to
be supportive of their
Nurse Practitioner
candidates (given the impact

on health care resources)
TO DO!
 Organize weekly
meetings & develop
clinical learning plan
including setting
clinical objectives
 Present weekly
clinical case
presentations
 Ensure patient log is
kept up-to-date and
complete
WHAT DO THEY DO? MENTOR
RESPONSIBILITIES
Meet weekly (for at least one hour)
 Ensure meetings have a structured approach
 Set objectives with student for semester
 Go through the patient log
 Critique clinical case presentations
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The mentor & student MUST keep a log of the
meetings & show how objectives achieved.
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PATIENT LOG:
 Reviewed
weekly by the mentor
 All
patients seen (assessment findings,
tests ordered & rationale, diagnosis,
mentor review and plan of care)
 Log
– clinical record at work and also used
specifically for the case presentations
required (as part of the academic assessment)
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1. Present a patient (current issues, PMH, etc)
2. Diagnostics ordered
3. Results & working diagnosis
4. Plan of care
including: meds/therapies ordered, referrals & follow-up, specific instructions
Presented to mentor
[weekly]
Clinical
case
presentation
Presented to peers in the
classroom
[4 per semester]
3,000 word written
assignment
[1 per semester]
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CLINICAL CASE PRESENTATIONS ARE BASED ON ANMC NP
COMPETENCIES
Systematically carries out a comprehensive initial and ongoing assessment to
determine patient’s needs and determine tests required
Consistently and systematically orders & interprets all relevant pathology, radiology
and other relevant tests
Provides good rationale for diagnostic tests & can provide an acceptable working
diagnosis based on findings with autonomy and accountability in practice.
Prioritizes nursing care based on assessment of immediate and ongoing patient/s needs and
provides adequate education/information
Collaborates with the multidisciplinary team (incl. contributing to ward round), patient
and significant others in leading /managing patient/client care.
Plans for discharge and follow-up or transfer taking patient/client culture and lifestyle into
consideration.
Critiques own practice and uses peer review taking health policies, social factors,
professional, organizational and financial issues into consideration.
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