The General Practice Nurse is in the best position to provide an effective primary health care model as they are frequently the first point of contact for patients and treat a range of conditions from minor colds through to chronic illness problems. They also provide an important role in health education and promotion. The General Practice field within the Master of Nursing therefore has the potential to equip nurses with specialist skills in patient assessment, treatment and evaluation; particularly in General Practice settings and so develop an extended role as a Nurse Practitioner.

It is expected that students might already be working in advanced clinical roles within general practice clinics. Credit for prior learning may be able to be given for registered nurses with other postgraduate qualifications, particularly in general practice or community nursing or similar. Students will be expected to be supported by a clinical mentor in their field of employment and study as well as have access and support from a multidisciplinary clinical support team comprising of physicians, general practitioners, allied health professionals, psycho-geriatricians etc, who will provide expert guidance and feedback to students as they develop their advanced roles within their field.

The General Practice Nursing field of study provides students with an extensive knowledge and understanding of multidisciplinary approaches to working in general practice settings. Students will complete six core courses and then be able to select six elective courses from a range offered across medicine, population health, social and behavioural sciences. These courses will provide students with the opportunity to study specific issues relating to general practice nursing and link this to their own practice in areas such as:
mental health services
counselling services
alcohol abuse and dependency
diabetes
cardiovascular disease