Bachelor of Nursing and Rural Health Practice

Course code: 3558 + Course abbreviation: BNRurHlthPrac + Total credit points required: 192 + 4 years full-time, 8 years part-time

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Gippsland, Mildura)

Course description

The course aims to comprehensively prepare graduates to a standard consistent with the identified needs for establishing and sustaining a career in rural nursing practice. The first two years of the course are identical to the Bachelor of Nursing. The last two years prepare students to function safely and effectively in a variety of rural practice settings. Students will develop a broader range of primary assessment skills, and advanced generalist practice skills consistent with addressing rural health crises including medical, obstetric and mental health emergencies, rural road trauma, and farming and industrial accidents.

Students will develop nursing competencies related to health promotion, health breakdown and rehabilitative care and expand their ability to plan and provide health education and health screening. They will extend their insight into the implications of multidisciplinary collaborative care, rural health issues and practice, and the health problems, patterns and needs of diverse population groups, including indigenous Australians.

The course addresses the multicultural complexity of Australian society and current socio-political and economic issues affecting nursing and health care.

Course objectives

Students completing this degree are expected to achieve the standing objectives of the Bachelor of Nursing (as listed earlier in this section of the handbook). In addition students will be expected to: provide holistic, family-centred health care based on the health care patterns, needs and problems of rural communities; implement appropriate problem solving, clinical reasoning and referral to address rural health issues and crises; initiate interventions to promote restoration of health and wellbeing and contribute to the prevention of disease in rural communities; evaluate the role and contribution of multidisciplinary input to collaborative rural health care; appreciate the impact that rural context has on the structure, process and availability of health services in rural and remote areas; critically analyse the factors shaping the health of Indigenous Australians; practice primary health care in a rural context; understand and appreciate the importance of multidisciplinary teams in rural health service provision; explore the personal, professional and family issues related to rural practice; provide basic counselling support and sensitively addresses the diversity of rural populations and the needs of minority group members; and appreciate the dynamics of rural health care practice that impact on living and working in a rural community.

Special requirements

Police checks

Organisations which host clinical placements require students to have a current police check regarding their suitability to undertake 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 Administration Policy

Students should be aware of their legal position regarding the administration and storage of drugs. In addition, it is the policy of the campus 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 arrangements and expenses related to travel and accommodation for clinical experience.

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

Vaccinations Policy

Students are required to obtain relevant vaccinations prior to clinical placements. Arrangements regarding serological screening and vaccination will be organised on commencement.

Course structure

Clinical experience makes up fifty percent of the Bachelor Nursing/Bachelor of Rural Health Practice course. In the clinical setting, the student will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision. Clinical practice experience commences in the first semester of the course and increases progressively in duration.

Students attend a broad range of areas including medical/surgical, aged care, paediatrics, mental health, operating theatre, accident and emergency, intensive care, community health, multidisciplinary care and midwifery. These clinical experiences are under the supervision of academic staff from the school, clinicians and approved clinical teachers.

Generally speaking, a student on clinical experience may commence with a 7am start at the venue, an afternoon shift with a 10pm finish, weekend shifts and night duty and work a supervised 32-40 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.

Course requirements

To qualify for the Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Rural Health Practice, students must satisfactorily complete the following units.

First year

First semester

NUR1001 Professional communication
NUR1003 Nursing, society and culture
NUR1101 Perspectives of health and wellness
HSC1301 Human structure and function 1

Second semester

NUR1102 Health assessment in clinical practice
NUR1202 Legal issues and concepts
HSC1302 Human structure and function 2
SRH 2002 Indigenous health and well-being

Second year

First semester

NUR2001 Evidence 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
Elective

Third year

First semester

NUR3002 Nursing practice in context 3
NUR3003 Education in health practice
NUR3104 Mental health practice 2
SRH3001 Rural health issues 1: Health in the rural context

Second semester

NUR3005 Chronicity in health care
NUR3109 Transition to rural nursing

Fourth year

First semester

NUR4101 Collaborative health care
SRH4002 Rural health issues 2: Rural health policy and practice
SRH4101 Counselling for rural practice

Second semester

NUR4003 Rural health emergencies
SRH4003 Rural health issues 3: Dynamics of rural health practice
Elective

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Rural Health Practice will be awarded on completion of the course. Students having satisfactorily completed three years of this course and the requirements for the Bachelor of Nursing will be eligible for general nurse registration (division 1) with the Nurses Board of Victoria.

Contact details

Telephone: +61 3 9902 6454, email: nursing.enquiries@med.monash.edu.au or visit www.med.monash.edu.au/nursing

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