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Bachelor of Nursing

Bachelors Degree

Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Course abbreviation

    BN

  • Course code

    3005105

  • Credit points

    288

  • Equivalent units

    24

  • Indicative Fee

    Commonwealth supported

Overview

Nurses are the heart and soul of healthcare, and nursing is a career where you can make a positive difference in the lives of others every day.

Our Bachelor of Nursing is taught 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 University graduate are excellent — 95 per cent of our nursing graduates find employment shortly after graduation (QILT, 2018).

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. This year we are joining the WHO in celebrating the Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020, by sharing the stories and successes of the Southern Cross nursing and midwifery community.

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 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.

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Coffs Harbour Session 1, Session 2, Session 3 N/A N/A
Gold Coast Session 1, Session 2, Session 3 N/A N/A
Lismore Session 1, Session 2, Session 3 N/A N/A

Career Outcomes

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]’s standards for English language must be met. See the AHPRA web site for further information.]

Requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.

Entry requirements

Applicants must:

1. provide a written declaration that English is their primary language, or

2. have achieved:

  1. the IELTS (academic module) with a minimum overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components: or
  2. the OET with a minimum score of B in each of the four components; or
  3. the PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills; or
  4. the TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test: 24 listening, 24 reading, 27 writing, and 23 speaking.

Please note, Rule 2 Schedule B test scores equivalencies do not apply to this course.

In order to register to practice, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency [AHPRA]’s standards for English language must be met. See AHPRA’s English Language Skills for further information.

An applicant who has completed a Certificate III qualification will not be admitted solely on the basis of this qualification.

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Nursing, students must complete 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 192 credit points, comprising any 16 core units.

Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Health and Human Sciences after completing 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 School of Health and Human Sciences 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 a specified supported professional experience placement to ensure professional experience 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.

Course structure

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. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment.

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
Year 1, Session 1
BIO71002 -  Human Physiology I Introductory
BIO10662 -  Systemic Anatomy Introductory
NRS10731 -  The Discipline of Nursing Introductory
NRS71005 -  Essentials of Nursing and Care Introductory
Year 1, Session 2
BIO71003 -  Human Physiology II Introductory
NRS10733 -  Narratives of Health and Illness Introductory
NRS71001 -  Nursing and Lifespan Health Introductory
NRS71003 -  Health Assessment Introductory
Year 2, Session 1
PHA00315 -  Introductory Pharmacology Introductory
NRS20002 -  Clinical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning Intermediate
NRS72007 -  Human Response to Health Breakdown Intermediate
NRS72003 -  Chronic Illness and Nursing Care Intermediate
Year 2, Session 2
MAT71004 -  Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners Introductory
NRS72001 -  Mental Health Nursing Intermediate
NRS72005 -  Primary Health Care and Nursing Practices Intermediate
NRS72009 -  Health Maintenance and Restorative Nursing Care Intermediate
Year 3, Session 1
NRS30001 -  Utilising Research to Promote Quality in Health Care Advanced
NRS73005 -  The Emerging Practitioner Advanced
NRS73001 -  Acute Care Nursing Advanced
NRS73007 -  Nursing Management of Acute Health Breakdown Advanced
Year 3, Session 2
NRS30004 -  Care Management and Leadership Advanced
NRS30005 -  Complex Challenges in Nursing Care Advanced
NRS73009 -  Transformative Nursing Practices Advanced Note 1

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
Year 1, Session 1
BIO71002 -  Human Physiology I Introductory
BIO10662 -  Systemic Anatomy Introductory
Year 1, Session 2
NRS10733 -  Narratives of Health and Illness Introductory
BIO71003 -  Human Physiology II Introductory
Year 2, Session 1
NRS10731 -  The Discipline of Nursing Introductory
NRS71005 -  Essentials of Nursing and Care Introductory
Year 2, Session 2
NRS71001 -  Nursing and Lifespan Health Introductory
NRS71003 -  Health Assessment Introductory
Year 3, Session 1
PHA00315 -  Introductory Pharmacology Introductory
NRS20002 -  Clinical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning Intermediate
Year 3, Session 2
MAT71004 -  Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners Introductory
NRS72001 -  Mental Health Nursing Intermediate
Year 4, Session 1
NRS72003 -  Chronic Illness and Nursing Care Intermediate
NRS72007 -  Human Response to Health Breakdown Intermediate
Year 4, Session 2
NRS72005 -  Primary Health Care and Nursing Practices Intermediate
NRS72009 -  Health Maintenance and Restorative Nursing Care Intermediate
Year 5, Session 1
NRS73007 -  Nursing Management of Acute Health Breakdown Advanced
NRS73001 -  Acute Care Nursing Advanced
Year 5, Session 2
NRS30005 -  Complex Challenges in Nursing Care Advanced
NRS30004 -  Care Management and Leadership Advanced
Year 6, Session 1
NRS73005 -  The Emerging Practitioner Advanced
NRS30001 -  Utilising Research to Promote Quality in Health Care Advanced
Year 6, Session 2
NRS73009 -  Transformative Nursing Practices Advanced Note 1

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
Year 1, Session 2
BIO71002 -  Human Physiology I Introductory
NRS10733 -  Narratives of Health and Illness Introductory
Year 1, Session 3
BIO71003 -  Human Physiology II Introductory
Year 2, Session 1
BIO10662 -  Systemic Anatomy Introductory
NRS10731 -  The Discipline of Nursing Introductory
NRS71005 -  Essentials of Nursing and Care Introductory
MAT71004 -  Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners Introductory Note 9
Year 2, Session 2
NRS71003 -  Health Assessment Introductory
NRS71001 -  Nursing and Lifespan Health Introductory
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

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
Session 3 prior to Year 1
BIO10662 -  Systemic Anatomy Introductory
Then follow the course progression for Session 1 Commencement (full-time or part-time) excluding the completed unit.

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

Unit Code Unit Title Level of learning Notes
Core Units
BIO71002 Human Physiology I Introductory
BIO10662 Systemic Anatomy Introductory
NRS10731 The Discipline of Nursing Introductory
NRS71005 Essentials of Nursing and Care Introductory
BIO71003 Human Physiology II Introductory
NRS10733 Narratives of Health and Illness Introductory
NRS71001 Nursing and Lifespan Health Introductory
NRS71003 Health Assessment Introductory Note 2
PHA00315 Introductory Pharmacology Introductory
NRS72007 Human Response to Health Breakdown Intermediate
NRS72003 Chronic Illness and Nursing Care Intermediate Note 3
NRS20002 Clinical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning Intermediate
NRS72005 Primary Health Care and Nursing Practices Intermediate Note 4
NRS72009 Health Maintenance and Restorative Nursing Care Intermediate
MAT71004 Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners Introductory
NRS72001 Mental Health Nursing Intermediate Note 5
NRS73005 The Emerging Practitioner Advanced
NRS30001 Utilising Research to Promote Quality in Health Care Advanced
NRS73001 Acute Care Nursing Advanced Note 6
NRS73007 Nursing Management of Acute Health Breakdown Advanced
NRS30005 Complex Challenges in Nursing Care Advanced
NRS30004 Care Management and Leadership Advanced Note 7
NRS73009 Transformative Nursing Practices Advanced Note 1, Note 8