Rural and Isolated Practice Registered Nurse course

The Rural and Isolated Practice Registered Nurse (RIPRN) course equips experienced registered nurses who are working in rural and remote areas, with the advanced decision making and diagnostic skills required when working in the generalist expanded practice role of initiating patient care (including use of medicines) in rural and remote primary care.

The RIPRN course focuses on holistic and culturally appropriate care which is contemporary and evidence based. In corporates collaborative practice, history taking, clinical assessment, and the application of pharmacology principles to support excellence in service delivery when using the Primary Clinical Care Manual.

Queensland Health and the Victorian Department of Health are committed to supporting the development of nurses in rural and remote practice. The Cunningham Centre RIPRN course is the only available course that is approved under the current legislation in these States. The RIPRN Course meets the educational requirements to become a credentialed/approved rural and isolated practice registered nurse (RIPRN). Credentialed/approved RIPRNs can supply and administer certain scheduled medicines, in line with the legislation and the current Primary Clinical Care Manual (PCCM).

The Rural and Isolated Practice Registered Nurse (RIPRN) Course has been developed for registered nurses wishing to expand their knowledge and skills to meet the legislative requirements to practice as a RIPRN.

This course equips nurses with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide healthcare within the unique challenges of the rural and remote context, while fulfilling their legal, professional, and ethical obligations.

The course meets educational and legislative requirements authorising Registered Nurses to manage patients (including the use of certain medicines) across the lifespan utilising the Health Management Protocols (HMPs) and Clinical Care Guidelines (CCGs) within the Primary Clinical Care Manual (PCCM).

Students will complete three modules of study which provide an understanding of the professional issues, legislation, pharmacology, and advanced clinical decision making in the assessment and management of patients. This is performed by applying advanced critical analysis and clinical judgement, preparing registered nurses for safe, autonomous, and accountable practice as RIPRNs.

Through online theory and application of this in the students’ work-based learning, the student will build on history and physical assessment skills using clinical decision making to effectively plan the management of patient care (including initiation of medicines) within a collaborative practice framework.

Upon completion of the course the students will:

• demonstrate knowledge of the professional standards, responsibilities, and regulatory requirements to inform safe, effective practice (including the use of scheduled medicines, HMPs and CCGs) within the extended scope of practice of the RIPRN.
• demonstrate knowledge of pharmacology and the application of professional and regulatory requirements governing the possession, administration, and supply of medications to inform safe and effective practice as a RIPRN in rural and remote contexts.
• demonstrate clinical leadership through the application of advanced clinical reasoning, professional judgement, and decision-making skills in the context of rural and remote healthcare settings.
• utilise critical analysis in comprehensive assessment and management of patients to provide safe, evidenced based care using the HMPs/CCG’s (including the use of scheduled medicines) within the PCCM to improve patient outcomes.
• demonstrates culturally safe, autonomous practice and advocates for practices which improve health outcomes for rural and remote populations across the lifespan within a collaborative framework.
• demonstrates a commitment to ongoing professional development, keeping up to date with evidence-based practices, and continuously enhancing skills and knowledge relevant to the extended scope of practice of a RIPRN.

The course has been developed at post graduate level, and credit is offered through numerous tertiary institutions/universities. It is recommended that you apply directly to the appropriate faculty if requesting credit transfer or recognition of prior learning (RPL).

Participants must meet the following criteria:

• current registration with AHPRA as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) General in Australia
• concurrent employment in a rural hospital or an isolated practice setting in an area of primary/ambulatory care (e.g. a primary health care centre, or if working in larger rural hospital, outpatients/emergency)
• have completed a HESA accredited immunisation course. Certified copy of qualification must be uploaded with application.

You will also be required to have access to a computer and reliable internet connection.

Before you apply, you should review the academic guidelines and check the software requirements to ensure your computer system is compatible with our learning systems.

All components of the course must be completed to obtain the RIPRN qualification.

This course is 450 hours in duration to be completed over a 9 month period. The course consists of 3 modules:

It is anticipated that it will take you  35weeks of approximately 12.5 hours study/activities per week to complete the course.

The course is offered online. The following strategies will be utilised to facilitate flexible learning: online study guides and readings, online tutorials, reflective practice journal and work-based learning.

Each module has assessment activities, which include online exams, written assessments, case studies and clincal assessments.

A pass (50%) must be achieved in each component unless otherwise stated in the student handbook. If you fail to achieve a pass in any of the course assessments you will be invited to resubmit once for reassessment after appropriate support. Only two attempts (or one re-submission) are permitted in each component of the assessment schedule unless otherwise specified. If resubmission is required, the resubmission will attract a mark of 50% only (with the exception of the medication calculation examination).

Progress payments will no longer be available from 2025. All fees are required in full at least 3 weeks before the commencement date of the course.

The 2025 fee schedule is to be confirmed.

Please refer to our fees and payments page for more detail on our pricing model and payment options.

You will be provided with a hard copy of the Primary Clinical Care Manual posted on enrolment and payment of the course. Other resources will be available electronically. Access to a computer and the internet are essential.

You will be required to have access to current*:

• Australian Medicines Handbook
• MIMS
• Australian Immunisation Handbook.

* These are essential resources for practice as a RIPRN. Access to these resources is not provided by the Cunningham Centre and is the responsibility of the student.

The Cunningham Centre does not provide access to referencing software, such as Endnote.

Applicants may be eligible for funding through various scholarships available from the Australian College of Nursing.

Health Workforce Queensland are offering scholarships for health professionals working in the primary health care sector and providing services to MMM3 - 7 to participate in activities such as this. Queensland Health applicants may be eligible if they also work in non-Queensland Health facilities.

To find out more about this opportunity and to apply, please go to the Health Workforce Queensland website: https://www.healthworkforce.com.au/scholarship-program/.

This funding opportunity is also available in other states within Australia.  If you are a remote or rural health professional outside Queensland, visit the website for your relevant Rural Workforce Agency: NSW, VIC, TAS, SA, WA, NT.

PLEASE NOTE: The 2025 cohort dates are yet to be confirmed. Please submit an expression of interest to be contacted when details are available.
Complete an expression of interest

Entry into the course is by application and a selection process.

All applications will be assessed the week following the application close date, and applicants will be advised of a potential commencement date if a successful offer is made. (Please make a note of this date).

No payment is required until a position is offered and accepted by the applicant.

Once offered a place in a cohort, payment must be received within 3 weeks of the offer to secure a place in the course.  If not received within 3 weeks, the offer will be transferred to another applicant and your application transferred to a future cohort.

Malvin Mutyanda | Associate Nurse Unit Manager
It's good to have  that knowledge to empower me to  practise my profession  with a different view now compared to  what I have  done for years. The modules  are well designed to take you  slowly through the information  so much that you recall  quite a lot at the end. It's  been a beautiful  journey.

Karin Neilson | Registered Nurse
As a mature student graduating into the world of nursing in 2012, I had looked forward to being eligible to apply for enrolment in the Rural and Isolated Practice (Scheduled Medicines) Registered Nurse course, and I have not been disappointed!

I work in a very busy rural hospital and my personal goals in enrolling to undertake this postgraduate study was to extend my skills, increase my knowledge, confidence and scope. I aim to be the best I can be in my profession, helping to deliver safe, quality health care to the community in which I live and work.

Over the past 12 months, Cunningham Centre has helped me achieve these goals. The resources are up to date, have great integrity and have become most valuable tools in my daily practice. Sue and Sandyl have been accessible, and provided great contact, feedback and support specific to my personal needs and challenges.

I look forward to undertaking further courses offered by the Cunningham Centre.

Nicole Ramsamy | Nurse Practitioner
I was introduced to the Primary Clinical Care Manual in the late 1990's when working in a remote community of Cape York. I was so interested in the manual and found that the clinical pathway was so easy to use and provided me with clear instructions. This prompted me to want to become a RIPRN nurse.

Undertaking this course had given me confidence in my clinical skills, assessment and documentation, understanding the registered nurse's scope of practice, health management protocols and drug therapy protocols, which are all significant when working in rural and remote communities. This endorsement allowed me to further enhance my clinical skills by undertaking other workshops and courses specifically targeted for remote area nurses.

When working in a remote or rural setting I have found that the clients have confidence with the RIPRNs whom have the endorsement and that they can be seen for certain conditions and supplied adequate management plans according to the pathway without having to wait and see the doctor.

I would encourage RNs to undertake the Rural and Isolated Practice (Scheduled Medicines) RN course leading to endorsement as it has certainly been of great value in providing care to people working in remote communities when you have no doctors on site or unavailable by phone. It is also great for the clients who tend not to want to wait in primary health care centres or rural hospitals.

Since completing the RIPRN endorsement, I have continued my studies receiving qualifications in Immunisation, Women's Health, Midwifery and eventually becoming a Nurse Practitioner.

Robyn Taylor | Clinical Nurse Consultant
The course has been so worthwhile and being able to supply drugs is a brilliant adjunct to nursing. I was incredibly well supported throughout the course. The content was relevant and it was an enjoyable learning experience.

Sonia Girle

e. RIPRN@health.qld.gov.au

Kate Coman

e. RIPRN@health.qld.gov.au

Nursing Education and Training

t. 07 4699 8100

e. RIPRN@health.qld.gov.au