Approved Abbreviation: BN

Western Sydney University

About

This course prepares graduates for eligibility to apply for registration throughout Australia as a registered nurse.

The focus of the course is on inquiry-based learning, critical thinking and reflective practice in relation to the theory and practice of nursing in health and health breakdown across the lifespan.

Using a primary health care framework students study the application of physical and behavioural sciences to nursing;

inquiry and evidence-based practice principles and utilisation within nursing;

nursing care of individuals, families and groups from diverse backgrounds across the lifespan.

The acquisition of nursing knowledge and skills occurs initially in campus-based simulated clinical practice settings and consolidation occurs as students undertake clinical placements in a variety of health care settings.

Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 170 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Full-time

Code	Name
401029	Foundations for Nursing Practice

Code	Name
401008	Professional Practice Experience 3

Code	Name
401206	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Code	Name
401207	Health Variations 1 - Perioperative

Code	Name
401208	Research for Nursing and Midwifery

Code	Name
401218	Graduate Entry Practice Experience

Code	Name
401012	Professional Practice Experience 4

Code	Name
401013	Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 1

Code	Name
401209	Health Variations 2 - Chronic Illness and Disability

Code	Name
401210	Health Variations 3 - Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Conditions

Code	Name
401016	Professional Practice Experience 5

Code	Name
401017	Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 2

Code	Name
401211	Health Variations 4 - Acute Life Threatening Conditions

Code	Name
401212	Health Variations 5 - Palliative and End of Life Care

Code	Name
401020	Professional Practice Experience 6

Code	Name
401021	Being a Professional Nurse or Midwife

Code	Name
401213	Clinical Leadership and Professional Relationships

Professional Practice Experience

The Professional Practice Experience is the foundation for student learning in the course. It consists of two major learning contexts for students: clinical placement and simulation. Professional practice in the health care sector may take place in any level of the health service appropriate to the focus for the specific Professional Practice Experience unit, for example aged care facilities, hospitals, General Practitioner practices, community health teams. This environment is essential to provide students with the complexity of the nursing experience, the ability to apply learning in situations involving ill persons, and socialises students into the work domain.

Simulation is where aspects of the professional practice environment, such as a hospital ward or patient, are artificially created to enable students to learn in a safe, non-threatening environment. Clinical practice units, simulated professional practice environments, will be used that allow students to undertake learning activities, such as administering medications and oxygen therapy. The School has a wide range of simulation equipment and dedicated high fidelity simulation rooms on each campus.

The percentage of time spent by students in each context will vary, depending on the stage of the student in the course, the theoretical knowledge acquisition, and ANMC competency development. For example at the beginning of the course more hours will be spent in the simulation context than in the health care sector. As the course progresses there is a scaling up of hours spent in the health care sector with fewer hours being spent in the simulation context. In the final session of third year a significant proportion of knowledge and skills consolidation will occur primarily in a clinical practice environment.

Institution