Bachelor of Nursing

Course code: 0727 + Course abbreviation: BNurs + Total credit points required: 144 + 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Gippsland; Peninsula)

Course description

The course aims to prepare graduates with the personal and professional qualities required for future nursing practice. To achieve this, students will develop nursing competencies related to health promotion, health breakdown and rehabilitative care. Students are expected to develop skills of critical analysis in relation to the theory and practice of nursing, and also develop skills according to accepted standards of nursing practice.

Course objectives

On successful completion of the course the student will be expected to: meet currently accepted standards of nursing practice as set down in the ANCI National Competencies for the Registration and Enrolment of Nurses in Australia; provide holistic nursing care as a first-level practitioner in a variety of health care settings compatible with the broad health care needs and goals of Australia's multi-cultural society; encompass caring as a foundation concept for nursing practice; demonstrate effective communication in the health care setting; practice safely and maintain legal and ethical standards of practice; identify the health care needs and problems of individuals and groups of people in a variety of settings; set priorities in respect of health care needs and problems and make referrals when appropriate; plan, implement and evaluate care activities which encourage individuals and groups to achieve independence or self help in achieving and maintaining optimal levels of health; demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of political, historical, cultural, social and professional forces which have influenced nursing in the past and which provide the potential for change within nursing; understand the scientific principles underlying safe physical care of the client; appreciate the importance of participating in further education; understand and appreciate the importance of nursing research and critically analyse and apply research findings to nursing practice; have developed an ability to work within a team and adopt a collaborative approach to health care both at an interpersonal and an interdisciplinary level; participate in quality improvement programs to ensure quality care practices; participate in health teaching to individuals and groups.

Special requirements

Police checks

Organisations that host clinical placements require students to have a current police check regarding their suitability to undertake such placements. All enrolled and prospective students are advised that they will be required to obtain and pay for a police check prior to undertaking the clinical placements in their course. Police checks need to be renewed annually. However in some community partnered programs there may be a requirement to have a police check renewed every six months.

Drugs

Students should be aware of their legal position regarding the administration and storage of drugs. In addition, it is the policy of the School of Nursing and Midwifery that where drugs are required to be checked by two people prior to administration under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Victoria), and Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 1995; the student and supervisor (clinical teacher or registered nurse) are considered as one person. Students should be aware of the drug administration policy relevant to the particular year of study.

Clinical Expenses

Students are responsible for all travel and accommodation expenses related to clinical placements.

Uniforms and accessories are required for clinical placements and students will be notified regarding purchase arrangements upon commencement.

Vaccination Policy

It is required that students obtain relevant vaccinations prior to clinical placements for presentation to the course coordinator on request.

Course structure

In the clinical setting, the student will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision. Clinical experience is obtained in a wide variety of health agencies throughout Victoria, Australia and overseas.

Clinical experience makes up 50 per cent of the Bachelor of Nursing course. Generally speaking, a student on clinical experience may commence with a 7 am start at the venue, an afternoon shift with a 10 pm finish, weekend shifts and night duty and work a supervised unpaid 37.5 hour week. Attendance is mandatory for the clinical component of each unit. Make-up for time missed will be arranged in consultation with the clinical coordinator on receipt of a medical certificate.

Where a student’s skill or knowledge is found to be inadequate, access to the clinical component of the unit will be denied.

A student may be withdrawn from a clinical practicum if required skills and knowledge are deemed inadequate, or on other grounds deemed appropriate by the head of school.

Students undertaking the Bachelor of Nursing are selected into the honours degree (see the entry for the Honours degree of Bachelor of Nursing under ‘Honours degrees’ later in this section of the handbook) at the completion of the second year. From year three, students undertaking the honours degree in nursing will begin taking research units alongside their remaining nursing units.

Course requirements

To qualify for the Bachelor of Nursing, students must satisfactorily complete the following units*.

* The following course requirements refer to the Bachelor of Nursing course approved from 2007. Students enrolled prior to 2007 should consult the 2006 handbook for course requirements.

First year

First semester

NUR1001 Professional communication
NUR1003 Nursing, society and culture
NUR1101 Perspectives of health and wellness
HSC1301 Human structure and function

Second semester

NUR1102 Health assessment in clinical practice
NUR1202 Legal issues and concepts
HSC1302 Human structure and function 2
SRH2002 Indigenous health and wellbeing

Second year

First semester

NUR2001 Evidenced based health care
NUR2002 Nursing practice in context 1
NUR2003 Contexts of health care

Second semester

NUR2004 Nursing practice in context 2
NUR2104 Mental health practice 1
Elective

Third year

First semester

NUR3002 Nursing practice in context 3
NUR3003 Education for clinical practice
NUR3104 Mental health practice 2
Elective

Second semester

NUR3004 Preparing for practice
NUR3005 Chronicity in health care

Clinical Practice

In the clinical setting students will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision. Clinical experience is obtained in a wide variety of health agencies throughout Victoria, Australia and overseas.

Clinical experience makes up fifty percent of the Bachelor of Nursing course. Generally speaking, students on clinical experience will take on shift work, including weekend shifts and night duty and work a supervised unpaid 37.5 hour week. Attendance is mandatory for the clinical component of each unit. Make-up for time missed will be arranged in consultation with the clinical coordinator on receipt of a medical certificate.

Where a student’s skill or knowledge is found to be inadequate, access to the clinical component of the unit will be denied.

A student may be withdrawn from a clinical practicum if required skills and knowledge are deemed inadequate, or on other grounds deemed appropriate by the head of school.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Nursing will be awarded on completion of the course and will lead to eligibility for general nurse registration (division 1) with the Nurses Board of Victoria.

Contact details

Telephone: +61 3 9904 4260 (Peninsula), +61 3 9902 6454 (Gippsland); email: nursing.enquiries@med.monash.edu.au or visit www.med.monash.edu.au/nursing

Previous page | Next page | Section contents | Title and contents