Bachelor of Nursing for Overseas Qualified Nurses

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Bachelor of Nursing (Overseas Qualified Nurses) degree has been designed for nurses who are educated and registered outside of Australia. On completion, graduates are eligible to apply to register as a nurse with the Nurses and Midwives Board Australia.

The course outcomes are identical to the Bachelor of Nursing.

As a condition of entry to the program, all applicants are required to attend a three-week orientation module commencing in late January/early February and pass all assessment activities. Those who do not pass the assessment will be offered a place in the three-year Bachelor of Nursing degree.

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements, English requirements and credit transfer information are available from the Course Finder.

Higher levels of English language proficiency are required for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia after graduation and results must have been obtained no more than 2 years prior to applying for registration. Therefore graduates will be required to take a further IELTS test even if the required results were demonstrated prior to enrolment in the BNursing (OSQualNurs). Visit the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for further information.

Course structure

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Nursing for Overseas Qualified Nurses (BNOQN) will be able to:

1.  Evaluate knowledge, skills and behaviours for the provision of safe and effective quality and culturally appropriate nursing care.

2.  Critically evaluate relevant theories and frameworks that inform contemporary nursing.

3.  Demonstrate a critical awareness of knowledge, skills and behaviours commensurate with an effective nurse leader, educator and researcher.

4.  Assess, plan, deliver and evaluate person-centred and family focussed care, utilising the Roper-Logan-Tierney (2000) model of living/model for nursing.

5.  Use clinical reasoning skills for effective clinical decisions.

6.  Employ effective professional interpersonal and communication skills.

7.  Work effectively within an interprofessional health care team.

8.  Demonstrate initiative and judgement within professional, ethical and legal frameworks.

9.  Demonstrate the ability to create a therapeutic relationship with acknowledgement of professional requirements.

10.  Engage in reflexive nursing practice contributing to personal and professional development.

The Bachelor of Nursing for Overseas Qualified Nurses requires the successful completion of 96 credit points of subjects in accordance with the table below.

In order to attend clinical placements, students must meet NSW Health Department requirements in regard to Criminal Record Checks and Infectious Disease. 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 Overseas Qualified Nurses. For further information on Criminal Record Checks and Infectious Diseases please see visit Student Clearances for Clinical Placements - NSW Department of Health.

Orientation Module

The Orientation module will ensure that the students have the pre-requisite knowledge and skills for clinical practice, nursing process and safety content in Year 1 to include: medication, infection control, CPR, manual handling, medical terminology and colloquial language within the Australian context. This will be via a program of simulation and workshops that will include a series of challenges that will be structured and assessed. The orientation for 2014 intake is scheduled for 10 February 2014.

Professional Recognition/ACCREDITATION

Graduates are eligible to apply to register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). Registration with the Australian Health Professionals Registration Authority will require an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0, with a minimum score of 7.0 in all four test categories: Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening. Results must have been obtained no more than 2 years prior to applying for registration. Therefore graduates will be required to take a further IELTS test even if the required results were demonstrated prior to enrolment in the BNursing (OSQualNurs). Visit the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for further information.

Other Information

Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: smah-students@uow.edu.au