Course

Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced)

Approved Abbreviation: BN(Adv)

Western Sydney University Course Code: 4693.2

AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 063558G

This version of the course will commence from 2017.

For Commencement Year 2013 to 2016, please refer to: 4693.1 Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced)

This course prepares graduates for eligibility to apply for registration throughout Australia as beginning professional generalist registered nurses. 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. Students study 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. Prospective students should be aware that full disclosure of any issues of impairment or misconduct is a declaration requirement when applying for registration as a registered nurse. Students should also be aware that the regulatory authority (the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia) may have additional criteria that the student will need to meet prior to registration to practice being granted.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

Students in the Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced) will follow a similar study program set out for the Bachelor of Nursing. However there will be several units of study that engage students in additional learning, assessment and professional practice activities and opportunities. Each student will be allocated an Academic Mentor at the beginning of the second year of the program. Students are encouraged to participate in scholarly activities that will further enhance their knowledge and skills.

To maintain their enrolment in the Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced) students must maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.5 or above, otherwise they will be transferred to the standard 4691 – Bachelor of Nursing course. At enrolment students will be required to sign a declaration acknowledging the requirement to maintain a GPA greater than or equal to 5.5.

Study Mode
Three years full-time. (This program will only be offered in full-time mode and is not available for students wishing to undertake a reduced load).

Advanced standing

Advanced standing is granted on a case by case basis. Students in this program will only be able to attract advanced standing for the elective unit (10 credit points unspecified). Prospective students will need to provide formal evidence of qualifications and supporting documentation to enable assessment. Credit transfer will be granted to eligible students internally transferring from the Bachelor of Nursing to the Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced) for completed first year nursing units.

Accreditation
The Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced) has accreditation and approval from the Nurses and Midwives Board NSW. From 1 July 2010 the approval, recognition and accreditation of courses has been transferred to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMAC). Course accreditation can be checked on their website. Http://www.anmac.org.au/accreditation-services. Please note: from 1 July 2010 practitioners applying for registration as a nurse or midwife for the first time in Australia are required to demonstrate English language proficiency as specified by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). These requirements include: a) the IELTS examination (academic module) with a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking); or b) completion and an overall pass in the Occupational English Test (OET) with grades A or B only in each of the four components. For further details, refer to the NMBA website. Http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards.aspx

Inherent requirements

There are inherent requirements for this course that you must meet in order to complete your course and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this course online.

Inherent requirements

Admission

Students who are likely to attract a Western Sydney University ATAR of more than 90 may apply for admission via UAC or transfer as a post Year 1 Bachelor of Nursing student with a GPA of greater than 6.0.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

International applicants must apply directly to Western Sydney University via the International Office.

International students applying to The University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Special Requirements Prerequisites
To be enrolled in Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced), students must comply with NSW Ministry of Health Special Requirements for clinical practicum. These include 1). National Police Check or a criminal record clearance card/letter; International students require a police check (with English translation) from their own country or any country they have lived in, as well as one from Australia; 2). Meet NSW Ministry of Health verification requirements with regard to immunisation (a completed vaccination card with serology results); 3). NSW Health Code of Conduct signed; 4). Student Undertaking Placement/Declaration signed; 5).Students are required to complete a Working with Children Check leading to the issuance of a clearance number under the category of volunteer. Students will need to: i. Access the Commission for Children and Young People website and complete an online application form to generate an application number. ii. Present an application number and identification to a NSW Motor Registry or Government Access Centre prior to issuance by mail of a Working with Children Check number. iii. Submit the letter with a valid Working with Children Check number to Student Central where the document is TRIMMED and recorded in Callista as a Special Requirement; and 6). A current approved firstaid certificate. All requirements must be completed before eligible for clinical placement.

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

401000Professional Practice Experience 1
401001Primary Health Care in Action
401002Bioscience 1
401003Professional Communication

Spring session

401004Professional Practice Experience 2
401005Human Relationships and Life Transitions
401006Bioscience 2
401007Approaches to Professional Nursing Practice

Year 2

Autumn session

401008Professional Practice Experience 3
401009Health in a Culturally Diverse Community
401010Health Variations 1
401023Research Principles for Nursing (Advanced)

Spring session

401012Professional Practice Experience 4
401013Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 1
401024Health Variations 2 (Advanced)
401015Health Variations 3

Year 3

Autumn session

401016Professional Practice Experience 5
401025Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 2 (Advanced)
401026Health Variations 4 (Advanced)
401019Health Variations 5

Spring session

401020Professional Practice Experience 6
401027Being a Professional Nurse (Advanced)
401028Leadership in Nursing (Advanced)

And one elective

Additional Core Unit for Students with an Exceptional Study Pattern

To ensure currency of skill base, it is an accreditation requirement that students satisfactorily complete a minimum four week clinical practicum in the final session of their pre-registration Nursing program. Students within the Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced) who vary their study sequence significantly from the normal progression may be required to study the additional unit listed and should discuss this with the Director of Academic Programs, Undergraduate.

400768Maintaining Clinical Currency

Elective Unit

The elective unit in the Bachelor of Nursing may be chosen from across The University, provided that unit pre-requisites are met, space is available and students are able to meet all scheduled activities without compromising any nursing unit requirements.

The following are elective units in the Nursing discipline area which are not listed elsewhere in the Handbook. Some of these units are open to students from across The University provided that prerequisites are met and space is available.

400621Bugs and Drugs
400961Drugs on Line
400958A Field Study: Comparative Studies of Health Care Delivery
401196Contemporary Issues in Child and Adolescent Health
401237Maternal and Infant Health Care
401242An Introduction to Contemporary Aboriginal Australia
401240Risk Mitigation and Ethics for Australian Health Professionals

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: professional practice 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, GP practices, community health teams. This environment is essential for providing students complexity of the nursing experience, the ability to apply learning in situations involving ill persons, and socialises students into the work domain.

Simulation is a teaching and learning strategy where aspects of the professional practice environment, such as a hospital ward or patient, are artificially created on campus to enable students to learn in a safe, non-threatening environment. Clinical Practice Units, simulated professional practice environments, will be used to allow students to undertake learning activities related to all core nursing skills such as administering medications and monitoring a patient’s condition. 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 already acquired and the stage of 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.



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