174910 v.8 Bachelor of Science (Nursing)
BSc(Curtin)
Course CRICOS Code: 041794K
Registered full-time Duration for International Onshore Students on student visas:
3.5 Years
Course Overview
Bachelor degrees prepare students to develop broad and coherent knowledge and skills in a discipline for professional work and further learning corresponding to AQF level 7 qualifications.
The Bachelor of Science (Nursing) is designed for those intending to practice as a registered nurse. This course provides a comprehensive program of study involving a diverse range of simulated practice and fieldwork, interprofessional learning, contemporary blended learning, advanced clinical skill development and opportunity for an international study experience.
Professional Recognition
This course has been designed to meet the regulations of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Students who successfully complete the course requirements are eligible for recommendation by the Head of School to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for registration as Division 1 comprehensive registered nurses. Registration is subject to meeting all requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. To meet the registration requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia students are expected to complete the comprehensive stream within 8 years and the enrolled nurse to registered nurse stream within 5 years. Failure to complete the course in the allocated time period may necessitate the completion of additional units to ensure currency of practice. Students undertaking this course for the purpose of Australian registration must meet national registration standards. These standards include (but are not limited to): assessment of initial qualification and registration; criminal history screening; English language proficiency and assessment of health, conduct or performance issues.
Career Opportunities
Employment is available in diverse healthcare settings including teaching hospitals; public and private hospitals; mental health facilities and allied health services (clinics, alcohol and drug centres); community health agencies; aged care; primary healthcare settings; medical practices with general and specialist practitioners; and defence services.
Additional Course Expenses
Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks and other essential study materials.
Course Entry and Completion Details
Applicants are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au and include flexible entry pathways.
STAT requirements are Written English and MC Verbal. Desirable: Human Biological Science 3A/3B and Integrated Science 3A/3B. The comprehensive stream is available for school leavers and mature age students; the enrolled nurse to registered nurse steam is available for Australian recognised Enrolled Nurses with 1000 hours of related clinical experience. Those applying for the Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse stream are required to meet the Curtin University standard entry requirements and be currently enrolled with AHPRA as an Enrolled Nurse (Division 2). Applicants are required to have completed at least 1000 hours of clinical work experience as an Enrolled Nurse. Students should submit their application directly to the Health Sciences Student Services Office, Building 400, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845.International Students studying in Australia on a student visa can only study full-time and there are also specific entry requirements that must be met. Please refer to http://international.curtin.edu.au/ or phone +61 8 9266 7331 for further information.
Credit for Recognised Learning
Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au.
Those with an Australian recognised Enrolled Nurse qualification and 1000 hours of related clinical experience may be eligible for the Enrolled Nursing to Registered Nursing Stream and may receive exemption to the value of 300 credits.
Pathway to Further Study
Graduates may qualify for entry to a bachelor degree with honours and some graduate certificates, graduate diplomas and master degrees. For further details, see the University website http://curtin.edu.au.
Specific Course Completion Details
Students who have not successfully completed non-clinical units must do so within a period of two semesters in order to complete the course requirements. A break of more than one semester will incur additional clinical practice.Manual handling competency is a requirement for the course; training will be necessary in the first year of the course and a refresher course undertaken later in the course. On completion of this course, you will not be eligible for registration to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN), unless you are able to meet the national registration standards. These include (but are not limited to): Assessment of your initial nursing qualification and registration; Criminal History Screening; English Language Proficiency; Assessment of any health, conduct or performance issues. For more information on the registration process or standards, please refer to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia: http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au
Course Entry/Completion Note
Applicants are required to successfully complete a Senior First Aid Certificate or equivalent by the completion of the first semester of the course. Students are also required to complete criminal record and health screening. Applicants should see advice for clinical health sciences students and police clearances and working with children checks.
Course Organisation
Bachelor degrees typically contain a series of units which may include compulsory (core), optional or elective units to cater for student preferences. They may contain a range of majors/streams for students to choose from to pursue learning in a specialised area of study.
During the course there is considerable emphasis on developing relevant clinical skills to meet the needs of changing healthcare. A large proportion of the course involves simulated learning and practical experience in a variety of hospital and community settings and includes the care of people of all ages across healthy to acutely unstable states. Simulated practice supports the development of competency prior to fieldwork placements in a safe learning environment. Clinical visits range from observation visits to more prolonged periods in selected health agencies where students are given increasing involvement and responsibility in nursing activities under the supervision of academic and industry staff. Students commence clinical experience in second semester, which may involve a rural placement and shif twork, including night duty and weekend work. Students may also choose to undertake an overseas placement as part of their study.
Course Learning Outcomes
A graduate of this course can:
1. demonstrate accountable, safe, effective and innovative nursing care incorporating research evidence into nursing practice
2. use reflective, evidence based and problem solving approaches to the provision of nursing care
3. access and critically evaluate and utilise health care information
4. communicate effectively with clients, families, communities, within diverse health contexts
5. use technologies that assist the nurse to provide quality patient care within a changing health care environment
6. be an independent, self-directed learner who constructively reflects upon the health, social and educational experiences of self and others
7. incorporate regional, national, and global trends and innovations in health care into nursing practice
8. incorporate social, economic and cultural differences in the provision of culturally appropriate and sensitive nursing care to clients in a variety of settings
9. demonstrate ethical practice in accordance with legislation, nursing practice standards and professional codes of conduct
Duration and Availability
The comprehensive stream is taken over three and a half years of full-time study or equivalent part-time and is offered twice a year, in February and July at the Bentley campus, once a year at regional sites (Albany). The maximum duration is eight years to complete the course. The enrolled nurse to registered nurse stream is taken over two years of full-time study or equivalent part-time and is offered once a year in the external study mode, in July at the Bentley campus only and the clinical component for the EN to RN Stream must be completed in Western Australia.
Location and delivery Mode
| Year | Location | Period | All* | Internal | Partially Online Internal^ | External | Fully Online# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Bentley Campus | Semester 1 | Y | ||||
| 2014 | Bentley Campus | Semester 2 | Y | ||||
| 2014 | Bentley Campus | Semester 2 | Y |
The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.
* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.
^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.
# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.
| Course Structure | Hrs/Wk | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 311187 | v.2 | Comprehensive Stream (BSc Nursing) | |||
| OR | |||||
| 311190 | v.3 | Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse Stream (BSc Nursing) | |||
Further Information
For more information about the course, please contact the Faculty of Health Sciences on telephone (08) 9266 1000, email futurestudents@health.curtin.edu.au, or visit our website: http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au
Course Structure Disclaimer
Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within the normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.
Handbook Disclaimer
The online handbook is the repository of Curtin University of Technology (“Curtin”) course information. While Curtin makes all reasonable endeavors to keep its online courses handbook up-to-date, information within this website is subject to change from time to time. Curtin reserves the right to change the contents and/or the method of assessment, to change or alter tuition fees of any unit of study, to withdraw/any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/or to vary arrangements for any program without notification via the website.
For course overviews and enrolment information please visit our future students website.
