Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Course

This integrated course offers students the opportunity to gain skills and qualifications in nursing and emergency health and interprofessional practice. The course prepares graduates for employment opportunities in an expanded scope of practice roles in nursing and paramedic environments. The career prospects for the graduate are enhanced due to a dual qualification and the synergies which the two professions share.

On completion of the course the graduate will be qualified for a career in three areas; as a registered nurse, a paramedic or a paramedic nurse. Qualified paramedic nurses will undertake a key role in community-based triage, pre-hospital and in-hospital care and retrieval and will have an essential role in multi victim disasters.

The graduate will:

• work in an interprofessional practice context
• provide holistic, person centred nursing and paramedic care as a beginning practitioner in a variety of health care settings within local and global perspectives
• incorporate the individual's cultural, spiritual, and social values in planning, implementing and evaluating care
• practice in a manner that is reflective of the ethical and legal dimensions of the professions
• act as a reflective practitioner recognising the learning needs of themselves and others
• interpret and apply evidence-based practice as a foundation for nursing and paramedic care
• demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively as a member of the multidisciplinary team
• demonstrate an understanding of contexts in which health care is delivered within national and global perspectives
• practice in accordance with the ANCI and ANTA Competencies for registration of nurses and endorsed paramedics within Australia.

Police checks and Working with Children checks

Organisations that host clinical and community placements require students to have current Police and Working with Children checks regarding their suitability to undertake such placements. All enrolled and prospective students are advised that they will be required to obtain Police and Working with Children checks prior to undertaking their course. Working with Children checks are valid for five years and are available free. Police checks must be applied and paid for annually. However, in some community partnered programs, there may be a requirement to have a police check renewed every six months.

Medical Fitness Test

All applicants are required to complete a medical fitness test prior to commencement of the course.

Drug Administration Policy

Students should be aware of their legal responsibilities 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; 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. For more information please visit http://www.med.monash.edu.au/nursing/current.html and refer to the section entitled 'Clinical Guidelines'.

Vaccination Policy

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

Clinical practice units

This course requires students to undertake off-campus clinical placements. In the clinical setting students will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision. Attendance is mandatory for the clinical component of each unit.

Clinical experience makes up approximately 50 percent of the course. Generally speaking, students on clinical experience will take on shift work, including weekend shifts and night duty and work a supervised, unpaid 40 hour week. 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.

Clinical expenses

Students are responsible for all travel and accommodation expenses during clinical placement. Uniforms and accessories are required for clinical placements and students will be notified regarding purchase arrangements upon commencement.

Successful completion of the course will lead to eligibility for registration as a registered nurse (Division 1) with the Nurses Board of Victoria.

Students are required to undertake approx 35 per cent of their units in shared nursing discipline units, 35 per cent in shared emergency health discipline units, 15 per cent in interprofessional units and 15 per cent in shared health sciences units.

Students must satisfactorily complete the following units:

First year

First semester

• BEH1011 Clinical concepts of paramedic practice
• BMS1901 Human structure and function 1
• NUR1001 Professional communication
• NUR1101 Perspectives of health and wellness

Second semester

• BMS1902 Human structure and function 2
• NUR1022 Cultural Responsiveness for health care professionals
• NUR1102 Health assessment in clinical practice
• NUR1202 Legal issues and concepts

Second year

First semester

• BEH2021 Population aspects of CBEH services
• IPE1011 Foundations of health in primary clinical care
• NUR2002 Nursing practice context 1

Second semester

• NEH2002 Interprofessional health care teams 1
• NUR2004 Applied nursing practice in context 2
• NUR2104 Mental health practice 1

Third year

First semester

• NEH3001 Interprofessional healthcare teams 2
• NUR3002 Nursing practice context 3
• NUR3104 Mental health practice 2
• elective

Second semester

• BEH2012 Paramedic management of cardio-respiratory conditions
• BEH2022 Paramedic management of trauma and environmental conditions

Summer A semester

• BEH2032 Paramedic clinical practice

Fourth year

First semester

• BEH3021 Paramedic management of health conditions at life stages
• BEH3031 Paramedic clinical practice 2
• NEH4001 Preparing for interprofessional practice

Second semester

• BEH3012 Clinical leadership and emergency preparedness
• BEH3022 Contemporary challenges in CBEH
• BEH3032 Paramedic management of critical care specialty situations
• NEH4012 Interprofessional practice in community hospital settings

Bachelor of Nursing

Bachelor of Emergency Health (Paramedic)