Bachelor of Nursing Science - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

Qualify to practise as a registered nurse in Australia.

Combine an understanding of bioscience, anatomy and physiology and human pathophysiology with healthcare and community engagement. Courses include acute health, palliative care, drug therapy and health alteration. There is an option to complete a mental health major. A nursing internship and four clinical placements are supervised by experienced clinicians in a variety of hospitals, aged care facilities, health agencies and community settings. Graduates achieve the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council Standards for Registered Nurses.

Post-admission requirements

Before undertaking a clinical placement, students must obtain and maintain a current first aid and CPR certificate, provide evidence of hepatitis B immunisation, undergo a criminal history check and obtain a Suitability Card (Blue Card CCYPCG). Refer to Program requirements and notes.

Career opportunities

Nurse in acute care, armed forces, community, rural, mental health, Indigenous health, aged care or industry settings.

Membership

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA); Australian College of Nursing.

Registration

Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as nurses in Australia with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, which is a Board of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has a number of registration standards that graduates must demonstrate in order to be eligible for registration. For example, graduates must demonstrate English language skills at IELTS level 7, with 7 in all subtests, or equivalent before being considered for professional registration. For full details of the AHPRA Registration Standards, visit the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website.

Enquiries

• Contact Student Administration for application and admission information
• Contact the Faculty of Science Health Education and Engineering for program advice

Program requirements

In order to graduate you must:

• Complete all courses as listed below.
• (Optional) Select a Mental Health Major, after consultation with the Program Leader.
• Register any selected Majors with Student Administration.

In order to commence clinical placement you must:

• Hold a valid Suitability Card (Blue Card), throughout the duration of your program, which is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). You should allow 12 weeks for CCYPCG to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the clinical practice component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements.
• Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state / territory authority).
• Show evidence of complete Hepatitis B vaccination (3 inoculations over a period of six months).
• A current First Aid and CPR certificate is required from an organisation recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council before commencing clinical practice.
• Travel to attend clinical placements.
• Have a level of computer literacy, including word processing and email.

Program notes

• Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
• Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
• The Global Opportunities (GO) Program is not currently available to nursing students.
• Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
• When enrolling, please refer to the Study Plan.

Program structure

Introductory courses (8)

COR109 Communication and Thought
HLT100 Anatomy and Physiology
LFS103 Introductory Bioscience
NUR103 Nursing Practicum 1
NUR111 Practice Foundations
NUR121 Health, Culture and Society
NUR131 Research Foundations
NUR142 Holistic Health Assessment  

Advanced courses (14)

HLT221 Human Pathophysiology
HLT301 Challenges to Mental Health
NUR202 Nursing Practicum 3
NUR211 Nursing Practicum 2
NUR212 Caring for Child, Youth and Family
NUR222 Health Law and Ethics
NUR231 Drug Therapy
NUR241 Health Alteration
NUR272 Palliative, Rehabilitation and Continuing Care
NUR300 Nursing Internship
NUR311 Nursing Practicum 4
NUR331 Acute Health Alteration
NUR332 Cultural Diversity in Nursing and Midwifery
NUR341 Caring for the Older Client

Elective course (1)

Select 1 course from:

NUR312 Life Crisis - Translating Theory Into Caring Practice
NUR322 The Child Client

OR another course with the approval of the Program Leader.

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Study Plan

• Study Plan - Semester 1 commencement
• Study Plan - Semester 2 (mid-year) commencement **

** Duration note: The minimum three-year duration of the program will be extended for students commencing in Semester 2, 2013 due to the requirement to complete a final eight-week internship.

How to apply for an undergraduate program

• Confirm that you meet the undergraduate admission requirements below.
• Once you have decided on your degree, check the semester of offer on the program summary
• Refer to the application dates for cut-off dates and deadlines, check your eligibility for credit, and complete the appropriate application forms, if required
• To submit your application, refer to how to apply

Where can I ask more questions?

If you have questions about applications and admissions:

• Online: find answers to commonly asked questions in the Student FAQs
• Email: information@usc.edu.au
• Phone: Student Administration on +61 7 5430 2890
• In person: Student Central, Building C

If you have questions about your program:

• Contact the Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering

Am I eligible for admission to an undergraduate program?

USC makes admission offers for undergraduate programs to applicants who are judged to have a reasonable expectation of success in the program to which they are made an offer, in accordance with the Admissions – Academic Policy.

International applicants must meet specific entry requirements and apply directly to USC International.

To be eligible for admission as a domestic student to an undergraduate program at the University of the Sunshine Coast, an applicant needs to:

• be eligible for an OP or Selection Rank equal to or above the cut-off level in the offer round, through completion of a recognised formal or non-formal qualification, including:
  • Secondary study
  • Tertiary and certificate study
  • Bridging / preparatory study
  • Alternative entry qualifications (eg professional qualifications, employment experience, Personal Competencies Assessment, Special Tertiary Admissions Test).
  Refer to Entry pathways for more information
• have satisfied any subject prerequisites as specified in the program summary. Refer to Satisfying subject prerequisites for more information. Recommended prior study is not a prerequisite subject, but a recommendation as to what knowledge students should possess in the subject area.
• have satisfied the English Language Proficiency requirements. If English is not your first language, you need to meet the minimum English language requirements for your chosen program.

Once a completed application is submitted, a student is eligible for admission when they receive an offer to an undergraduate program.

As a USC student, you will need to refer to your study plan to enrol in the appropriate courses each semester or session.

Find out more about how to enrol or follow these steps:

1. Check the open enrolment dates and the academic calendar for key dates
2. Refer to your Study Plan to plan your courses for the study period
3. Find your courses and decide on your classes in the class timetable 
4. Log on to USC Central and enrol in courses and classes
5. Register your major or minor with your faculty (if applicable)
6. Apply for credit transfer or cross-institutional study (if applicable)
7. Pay required study fees by the fee due date

Useful links

• Getting Started Guide
• USC Central guide
• Class timetables
• Academic calendar
• Faculty major and minor offerings
• Student-related policies, plans and procedures
• Contact Student Administration

Where can I ask more questions?

If you have more questions about how to enrol:

• Online: Refer to the USC Central guide 
• Email: information@usc.edu.au
• Phone: Student Administration on +61 7 5430 2890
• In person: Student Central, Building C

If you have questions about your program:

• Contact the Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering