Bachelor of Nursing

Overview

The Bachelor of Nursing is a first level award. Aims include sound knowledge for safe and competent practice; appropriate affective and psychomotor skills in providing holistic patient care; reflective nursing practice skills in a variety of settings; drawing on relevant principles of the biosciences and social and behavioural sciences; effective interpersonal and group communication skills; effective and collaborative functioning as a professional member of the health care team; effective and sensitive practice within a multicultural environment; responsibility for the continuing development of self and profession; and high level skills in organisation and allocation of priorities in clinical and practice activities.

Entry Requirements / Assumed Knowledge

Domestic school leavers are assumed to have completed any 2 units of Science at HSC level. International students are required to have achieved an overall IELTS score of 6.5, with a level of at least 6.0 in all bands, reading, writing, speaking and listening. Alternative pathways exist for mature age domestic students.

Enrolled Nurses who have completed an appropriate TAFE bridging course can enter into Year 2 of the course.

Advanced Standing

Enrolled Nurses with a TAFE Advanced Certificate receive 12 credit points' advanced standing toward Year 1. Enrolled Nurses who have completed an appropriate TAFE bridging course can enter into Year 2 of the course.

Course Requirements

The Bachelor of Nursing is comprised of 144 credit points of core subjects. This is a prescribed course designed for persons seeking registration with the New South Wales Nurses' Registration Board, in which:

Year 1 of the course introduces Fundamentals of Nursing Practice;

Year 2 of the course focuses on developing Collaborative Practice; and

Year 3 of the course is concerned with Autonomous Practice.

Candidates should note that pre- and co-requisites apply to many subjects in the course. Satisfactory completion of all Year 2 nursing theory and practice subjects (NURS262, NURS263, NURS266, and NURS267) is a pre-requisite to enrolment in Year 3 nursing theory and practice subjects. The reason for these prescriptions is that the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health has a legal responsibility to ensure that candidates meet nursing theory and practice requirements at each level of the course.

Due to the necessary inclusion of clinical practicum, the length of each session of the course varies from the normal 13 week session. Throughout the three-year course, students will be required to attend 20 weeks off-campus clinical placements in a variety of settings and different area health services.

In order to attend clinical placements, students are required to have a Criminal Record Check (CRC)* clearance card.   To obtain this, students are requested to complete a CRC application form and sign a Working with Children Check* form eight weeks prior to clinical placements.  Before starting clinical placements, students are also required to comply with NSW Health Department Circular 'Occupational Screening and Vaccination Against Infectious Diseases',* available on the NSW Health Department website. Students who do not meet these requirements will not be able to attend clinical practicum and therefore will not be able to continue in the Bachelor of Nursing.

* Further information is available under 'Other Information' in this section.

Course Program

Honours

The Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) provides exceptional nursing students with the opportunity to extend their knowledge and skills beyond the beginning level. There is an increasing need for graduates to develop more advanced and extensive knowledge in the discipline than can be attained in a pass degree. This need can be achieved by qualified candidates who have attained a level of scholarship at credit level or above in 300-level Nursing subjects, undertaking advanced coursework and research.

Professional Recognition

Graduates are eligible to register with the Nurses' Registration Board NSW. Registration in other states is assessed individually. Graduates may gain registration in a number of other countries.

Other Information

Further information is available from:

Dr Peter Thomas, Undergraduate Coordinator, +61 2 4221 3229

or peter_thomas@uow.edu.au .

Uniadvice 1300 367 869.

Visit our website: www.uow.edu.au/health/nursing.

For information on Criminal Record checks and Infectious Diseases please see section at the end of this chapter.

Last reviewed: 30 January, 2007