Course summary
Nursing is a career where you can make a positive difference in the lives of others every day.
Our Bachelor of Nursing is delivered in state-of-the-art facilities, including laboratories that simulate real healthcare settings. You will develop the ability to apply knowledge and evidence-based clinical reasoning skills to a nursing practice, provide therapeutic care to patients, coordinate and lead nursing care to individuals and groups, and work independently as well as collaborate in multidisciplinary teams for effective, person-centred outcomes.
Supervised clinical placements provide invaluable nursing experience in public and private hospitals and health agencies with an option in third year to undertake a specialised professional experience placement where you can explore your diverse career options.
This degree is a strong foundation for a nursing career in a number of settings, with options including primary health, mental health, chronic disease, leadership and care management. Your employment prospects as a Southern Cross nursing graduate are excellent. In the Good Universities Guide 2021, Southern Cross achieved 5-stars for nursing graduate employment outcomes, and the joint highest result for a NSW university for graduate median salary (Good Universities Guide, 2021).
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the world needs 9 million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.
Nursing is a career where you can make a positive difference in the lives of others every day.
Our Bachelor of Nursing is delivered in state-of-the-art facilities, including laboratories that simulate real healthcare settings. You will develop the ability to apply knowledge and evidence-based clinical reasoning skills to a nursing practice, provide therapeutic care to patients, coordinate and lead nursing care to individuals and groups, and work independently as well as collaborate in multidisciplinary teams for effective, person-centred outcomes.
Supervised clinical placements provide invaluable nursing experience in public and private hospitals and health agencies with an option in third year to undertake a specialised professional experience placement where you can explore your diverse career options.
This degree is a strong foundation for a nursing career in a number of settings, with options including primary health, mental health, chronic disease, leadership and care management. Your employment prospects as a Southern Cross nursing graduate are excellent. In the Good Universities Guide 2021, Southern Cross achieved 5-stars for nursing graduate employment outcomes, and the joint highest result for a NSW university for graduate median salary (Good Universities Guide, 2021).
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the world needs 9 million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.
The course is responsive to contemporary nursing practice and provides content and clinical experiences as follows:
Professional areas: nursing knowledge and development, critical thinking and analysis, provision and coordination of person-centred care, independent and collaborative care, primary health care, mental health, acute and complex care, chronic disease management, palliative care, leadership and care management, aged care.
Biological sciences: anatomy, physiology, patho-physiology and pharmacology.
Social sciences: Australian health care system, Indigenous studies, psychology and sociology for health sciences, legal and ethical studies and research methods.
| Course Learning Outcome |
|---|
construct nursing practices on a comprehensive knowledge base to inform clinical reasoning and decision making to deliver sound judgements, safe, quality person centred care use and contribute to research as a basis for ongoing professional inquiry and evidence based nursing practice responsive to holistic patient/consumer need |
incorporate creativity, integrity, responsibility and accountability in professional work practices, community activities and ongoing learning |
assimilate professional attributes and adhere to professional ethical and legal standards set by the profession to ensure safe and effective nursing practice |
integrate and demonstrate the scope of nursing practice and a command of the factors that influence health outcomes for person centred care in a range of contexts |
possess comprehensive clinical abilities to apply reflective and analytical skills in initiating, prioritising, performing, managing and evaluating nursing practices in a range of diverse consumer and health related circumstances and environments |
demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaboratively with the consumer, the nursing team or as a member of an interdisciplinary health care teams and effectively lead the delivery of nursing |
apply and integrate an understanding of social, indigenous and cultural diversity, a local and international perspective, and respect for the identity and dignity of all persons |
Supervised clinical placements of approximately 880 hours provide students with nursing experience in public and private hospitals and health agencies. These may include acute and low care health facilities; community settings; mental health facilities; extended residential aged care; GP practices; health promotion and education; intensive care; health clinics; accident and emergency; palliative care; primary health care settings and related nursing and health services within metropolitan, regional and rural areas throughout NSW and QLD and may include national or international opportunities.
Professional experience placements require students to fulfil certain pre-requisites prior to attending any placements (e.g. a working with children check and National Police Certificate). Prior to applying for this course, please consider the important information regarding these requirements.
The degree is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and provides the necessary academic qualification for eligibility as a Registered Nurse in Australia.
Please note: In order to register to practice, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) standards for English language must be met. See the AHPRA web site for further information.
As a nursing student it is important to be aware of the registration standards required by the NMBA. See the details on the NMBA website.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing will be registered by Southern Cross University with NMBA as an enrolled student and will remain registered for the duration of study. Please see the AHPRA website for more details.
Course overview
Course code
3005105
Course abbreviation
BN
Credit points
288
Equivalent units
24
Duration
3 years full-time; 6 years part-time
Duration
3 years full-time
Availability details
Domestic
| Location | Teaching period | UAC code | QTAC code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffs Harbour | Session 1 | N/A | N/A |
| Gold Coast | Session 1 | N/A | N/A |
| Lismore | Session 1 | N/A | N/A |
Fee information
International
| Location | Teaching period | Annual Fees | CRICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffs Harbour | Session 1 | $28,800 ($3,600 per unit) | 016165C |
| Gold Coast | Session 1 | $28,800 ($3,600 per unit) | 016165C |
| Lismore | Session 1 | $28,800 ($3,600 per unit) | 016165C |
Course requirements
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Nursing, students must complete the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points), comprising all core units.
Exit Awards
Students may be eligible to exit with an Associate Degree of Health and Human Sciences after completing the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points), comprising any 16 core units.
Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Health and Human Sciences after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points), comprising any 8 core units.
Professional Experience Learning
This course includes professional experience learning. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on Faculty of Health Professional Experience page must be met prior to attending professional experience placement. All professional experience learning hours must be completed and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.
Progression
Students are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 12 months between study of any two (2) units with professional experience learning.
Students are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 12 months between study of a theory unit that relates specifically to a particular unit with professional experience learning.
Students who have an interrupted study sequence of more than 12 months will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and may be required to undertake specified practice or theory to ensure currency prior to continuation of the course.
Duration
The maximum duration for completion of the award of Bachelor of Nursing is seven (7) years in total which includes any period for a leave of absence.
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Access & Inclusion website. Students who have a disability or health condition which may impact on their ability to meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the Student Access & Inclusion website for further information and contact details.
Schedule of units
Course progressions
Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. Assistance on how to enrol can be accessed here.
Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment
Browse uni-wide elective units by selecting Uni-wide elective in the advanced filter of the Unit search
Browse shared majors and their units at Shared majors
| Title | Note | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1, Session 2 | |||
| HBIO1007 - Human Physiology I | |||
| NURS1004 - Narratives of Health and Illness | |||
| Year 1, Session 3 | |||
| HBIO1008 - Human Physiology II | |||
| Year 2, Session 1 | |||
| HBIO1003 - Systemic Anatomy | |||
| NURS1003 - The Discipline of Nursing | |||
| NURS1002 - Essentials of Nursing and Care | |||
| STAT2001 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners | Note 9 | ||
| Year 2, Session 2 | |||
| NURS2004 - Health Assessment | |||
| NURS2003 - Nursing and Lifespan Health | |||
| From Year 3, follow the Session 1 Commencement - Full time from Year 2 for full-time progression or the Session 1 Commencement - Part time from Year 3 for part-time progression | |||
| Title | Note | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Session 3 prior to Year 1 | |||
| HBIO1003 - Systemic Anatomy | |||
| Then follow the course progression for Session 1 Commencement (full-time or part-time) excluding the completed unit. | |||
| Title | Note | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| This pathway is for graduates of the SCU College Diploma of Health (Nursing Specialisation) 2125150 and graduates of the Griffith College Diploma of Health Care.
Students wishing to move into Yr 2 of the Bachelor of Nursing must commence in Session 3, immediately upon completion of the Diploma, and complete NURS2004 - Health Assessment |
|||
| Year 1, Session 3 | |||
| NURS2004 - Health Assessment | |||
| Year 2, Session 1 | |||
| On successful completion of NURS2004, follow the Session 1 Commencement full-time or part-time progression from Year 2, Session 1. | |||
Notes
| Note 1: | Double-weighted unit |
| Note 2: | 120hrs General Placement |
| Note 3: | 160hrs Chronic Illness Placement |
| Note 4: | 120hrs Primary Care Placement |
| Note 5: | 80hrs Mental Health Placement |
| Note 6: | 160hrs Acute Care Placement |
| Note 7: | 80hrs Aged Care and Leadership Placement |
| Note 8: | 160hrs Speciality Placement |
| Note 9: | Alternatively this unit can be completed in Year 3, Session 2 |