Course

Bachelor of Nursing

Approved Abbreviation: BN

Western Sydney University Course Code: 4691.1

AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 041099M

This version of the course is available to new and continuing students. Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year in the course was 2013 or later.

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. Using a primary health care framework 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. An English language skills registration standard is also applicable to all students applying for registration: (http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au )

Study Mode
Three years full-time. A reduced load may be possible in consultation with Academic Course Advisor. Details of units that could comprise a reduced study load can be located on the School of Nursing and Midwifery Homepage - http://www.westernsydney.edu.au/nursingandmidwifery

Advanced standing

Advanced standing is granted on a case by case basis. Prospective students will need to provide formal evidence of qualifications and supporting documentation to enable assessment. Decisions will be based on evidence of currency of the qualification and also evidence of equivalence in learning outcomes/ major content having been satisfactorily completed. Advanced standing for professional practice experience units may require the satisfactory completion of a skill challenge workshop prior to commencement of studies.

http://www.westernsydney.edu.au/nursingandmidwifery

Enrolled Nurse/Division 2 Nurse – Advanced Certificate

Enrolled Nurse/Division 2 Nurse – Diploma

Overseas Registered Nurse – Certificate

Overseas Registered Nurse – Diploma (not post secondary school)

Overseas Registered Nurse – Diploma ( 3years post secondary school)

Overseas Registered Nurse – Degree

Accreditation
The Bachelor of Nursing 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

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, 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

401000

Professional Practice Experience 1

401001

Primary Health Care in Action

401002

Bioscience 1

401003

Professional Communication

Spring session

401004

Professional Practice Experience 2

401005

Human Relationships and Life Transitions

401006

Bioscience 2

401007

Approaches to Professional Nursing Practice

Year 2

Autumn session

401008

Professional Practice Experience 3

401009

Health in a Culturally Diverse Community

401010

Health Variations 1

401011

Research Principles for Nursing and Midwifery

Spring session

401012

Professional Practice Experience 4

401013

Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 1

401014

Health Variations 2

401015

Health Variations 3

Year 3

Autumn session

401016

Professional Practice Experience 5

401017

Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 2

401018

Health Variations 4

401019

Health Variations 5

Spring session

401020

Professional Practice Experience 6

401021

Being a Professional Nurse or Midwife

401022

Leadership in Nursing and Midwifery

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 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 Academic Course Advisor.

400768

Maintaining 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.

400621

Bugs and Drugs

400961

Drugs on Line

400958

A Field Study: Comparative Studies of Health Care Delivery

401196

Contemporary Issues in Child and Adolescent Health

401237

Maternal and Infant Health Care

401242

An Introduction to Contemporary Aboriginal Australia

401240

Risk 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 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.