B-NURS v.2 Bachelor of Science (Nursing)

Bachelor Degrees prepare students to develop broad and coherent knowledge and skills in a discipline for professional work and further learning corresponding to AQF level 7 qualifications.

The Bachelor of Science (Nursing) is designed for those intending to practice as a registered nurse. This course provides a comprehensive program of study involving a diverse range of simulated practice and fieldwork, interprofessional learning, contemporary blended learning and advanced clinical skill development.

Professional Recognition

Graduates, on successful completion of the course, are eligible to apply for registration as a Division 1 nurse (Registered Nurse) with the NMBA. Graduates must also meet NMBA mandatory registration standards, these include (but are not limited to) Criminal History Screening and English language Proficiency, health, conduct or performance issues.

Course Accreditation

This course has been accredited by Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and approved as an approved program of study by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

Career Opportunities

Employment is available in diverse healthcare settings including teaching hospitals; public and private hospitals; mental health facilities and allied health services (clinics, alcohol and drug centres); community health agencies; aged care; primary healthcare settings; medical practices with general and specialist practitioners; and defence services.

Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks and other essential study materials.

Bachelor Degrees typically contain a series of units which may include compulsory (core), optional or elective units to cater for student preferences. They may contain a range of majors, streams and/or minors/specialisations for students to choose from to pursue learning in a specialised area of study. Students can take no more than 250 credit points of first year level units.

During the course there is considerable emphasis on developing relevant clinical skills to meet the needs of changing healthcare. A large proportion of the course involves simulated learning and practical experience in a variety of hospital and community settings and includes the care of people of all ages across healthy to acutely unstable states. Simulated practice supports the development of competency prior to fieldwork placements in a safe learning environment. Clinical visits range from observation visits to more prolonged periods in selected health agencies where students are given increasing involvement and responsibility in nursing activities under the supervision of academic and industry staff. Students commence clinical experience in second semester, which may involve a rural placement and shift work, including night duty and weekend work.

Course Learning Outcomes

A graduate of this course can:

1. demonstrate accountable, safe, effective and innovative nursing care incorporating research evidence into nursing practice

2. use reflective, evidence based and problem solving approaches to the provision of nursing care

3. access and critically evaluate and utilise health care information

4. communicate effectively with individuals, families and communities within diverse health contexts

5. use technologies that assist the nurse to provide quality patient care within a changing health care environment

6. be an independent, self-directed learner who constructively reflects upon the health, social and educational experiences of self and others

7. incorporate regional, national and global trends and innovations in health care into nursing practice

8. incorporate social, economic and cultural differences in the provision of culturally appropriate and sensitive nursing care in a variety of settings

9. demonstrate ethical practice in accordance with legislation, nursing practice standards and professional codes of conduct

Duration and Availability

The duration of this course depends on the stream undertaken, please refer to information provided for individual streams. The minimum duration of this course is one year full-time or equivalent part-time study. The maximum duration of this course is eight years to complete the course. Some streams in this course are not available at all campus locations and to international students studying in Australia; please refer to information provided for individual streams.

Location and delivery Mode

The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.

* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.

^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.

# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.

YEAR 1

Applicants for a Bachelor Degree are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://study.curtin.edu.au/ and include flexible entry pathways. Any specific course entry and completion requirements must also be met.

Desirable: Human Biology ATAR and Integrated Science ATAR. The Comprehensive Stream is available for school leavers and mature age students; the Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse Stream is available to individuals who hold an Australian recognised Diploma in Enrolled Nursing and who are currently enrolled with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as an Enrolled Nurse (Division 2). Those applying for the Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse Stream are required to meet the Curtin University standard entry requirements. Applications should be submitted directly to the University Admission Centre. The Registered Nurse Conversion Non-Registered Stream is available to nurses who are currently registered within Australia wanting to upgrade their qualification from a nurse diploma (general) to a degree. The Registered Nurse Conversion Australian Registration Stream is available to nurses whose Australian registration has lapsed due to a lack of currency of practice (must have practiced within the last 10 years); registered general nurses from overseas wishing to gain registration in Australia, (must hold qualifications that have been recognised via the Australian Qualifications Framework as equivalent to a diploma in nursing, meet Curtin English and entry requirements and have a minimum of 3 months (full-time) recent clinical nursing experience as a Registered General Nurse in an acute health care setting. STAT is not accepted for entry to this course, International Students studying in Australia on a student visa can only study full-time and there are also specific entry requirements that must be met. Please refer to or phone +618 9266 7331 for further information. Mandatory requirements for clinical practice include a Department of Health Criminal Record Screening, a National Police Screen, a Working with Children Check, Basic Life Support certificate and a manual handling certificate. It is expected that the student will maintain the currency of these requirements for the duration of the course. Certificates and screening costs are the responsibility of the student. Students must be available to undertake clinical practice during and/or outside semester in healthcare facilities. Clinical practice blocks can be several weeks in length and students need to be available for rotational shifts. While on clinical placement students require a Personal Electronic Device with mobile data to complete the assessment tool. More detailed information related to the required certificates and health and legal checks can be located on the Health Sciences’ website.

Credit for Recognised Learning

Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/non-school-leavers/rpl.cfm

Those with an Australian recognised Enrolled Nurse qualification and who are enrolled with AHPRA as an Enrolled Nurse (Division 2) may be eligible for the Enrolled Nursing to Registered Nursing Stream and may receive exemption to the value of 200 credits. Those who are registered with AHPRA as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) may be eligible for the Registered Nurse Conversion Non-registration Stream and may receive exemption to the value of 500 credits. Those who have completed an AQF equivalent diploma in nursing, have current registration as a registered nurse in the country of qualification (or subsequent employment) and have completed a minimum of three months of fulltime employment as a registered nurse in an acute healthcare setting within the last 5 years may be eligible for the Registered Nurse Conversion Australian Registration Stream and may receive exemption to the value of 500 credits. Those whose Australian registration has lapsed due to a lack of currency of practice (must have practiced within the last 10 years) may be eligible for the Registered Nurse Conversion Australian Registration Stream and may receive exemption to the value of 500 credits.

Pathway to Further Study

Graduates may qualify for entry to a Bachelor Degree with Honours and some Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Master degrees. For further details, see the University website http://curtin.edu.au.

Specific Course Completion Details

Students who have not successfully completed non-clinical units must do so within a period of two semesters in order to complete the course requirements. A break of more than one semester will incur additional clinical practice. Manual handling competency is a requirement for the course. On completion of this course, you will be eligible to apply for registration to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) and will also need to meet the national registration standards. These include (but are not limited to): assessment of your initial nursing qualification and registration; Criminal History Screening; English Language Proficiency; assessment of any health, conduct or performance issues. For more information on the registration process or standards, please refer to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia: http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au