Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences

Bachelor of Nursing

Testamur Title of Degree:

Bachelor of Nursing

Abbreviation:

BNursing

Home Faculty:

Health and Behavioural Sciences

Duration:

3 years full-time

Total Credit Points:

144 cp

Delivery Mode:

On campus

Starting Session(s):

Autumn

Location:

Wollongong, Bega and Shoalhaven*

UOW Course Code:

863

UAC Code:

757101

CRICOS Code:

003330B

* Year 1 and Year 2 only running at Shoalhaven in 2009

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 English 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 of 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 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 required 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.

For further information on Criminal Record Checks and Infectious Diseases please see the Additional Information Section.

Course Program

Subjects

Session

Credit Points

Year 1

NMIH101

Effective Communication in Health Care Relationships

Autumn

6

NMIH102

Patterns of Knowing in Nursing

Autumn

6

NMIH103

Art & Science of Nursing A

Autumn

6

NMIH104

Art & Science of Nursing B*

Autumn

6

NMIH105

Primary Health Care Nursing

Spring

6

NMIH106

Essentials of Care A

Spring

6

NMIH107

Essentials of Care B*

Spring

6

POP103

Introduction to Behaviour Changes

Spring

6

Year 2

NMIH201

Principles of Episodic Care

Autumn

6

NMIH202

Developing Nursing Practice 1*

Autumn

6

NMIH203

Family Centred Nursing

Autumn

6

NMIH204

Reflection and Practice

Autumn

6

NMIH205

Cultural Competencies in Health Care Practice

Spring

6

NMIH206

Therapeutics in Nursing

Spring

6

NMIH207

Developing Nursing Practice 2*

Spring

6

NMIH208

Mental Health Nursing 1*

Spring

6

Year 3

NURS362

Continuing, Rehabilitative and Palliative Care Nursing*

Autumn

6

NURS363

Therapeutic Use of Self

Autumn

6

NURS364

Research Appreciation and Application

Autumn

6

NURS365

Mental Health Nursing 2*

Autumn

6

NURS322

Developmental Disability Nursing*

Spring

6

NURS328

Management in Nursing

Spring

6

NURS366

Community Health Nursing

Spring

6

NURS367

Medical/Surgical Nursing 4*

Spring

6

* denotes clinical subjects

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.

Further Information

Dr Peter Thomas
Undergraduate Coordinator
+61 2 4221 3229
peter_thomas@uow.edu.au