Undergraduate - Course3892 - Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Emergency Health (Paramedic)

This integrated course offers students the opportunity to gain skills and qualifications in nursing and emergency health and inter-professional 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 inter-professional 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 Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC)Competencies

Special requirements

Students must refer to the information available on the special requirements outlined below. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they have the correct documentation.

Police checks

Students must have a current Police check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Information available at http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/police-checks.html.

Working with Children checks

Students must have a current Working with Children check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Information available at http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/wwc-check.html.

Immunisation and infection procedures

Students must comply with procedures to minimise the risk of cross-infection of communicable diseases, and obtain documentary evidence of relevant vaccinations prior to clinical placements. Information available at http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/immunisation.

Medical fitness test

Students must complete a medical and fitness assessment. This is a prerequisite for clinical placements offered by Victorian ambulance services.

Drug administration policy

Students should be aware of their legal responsibilities regarding the administration and storage of drugs in keeping with the Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic) and the Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2006 (Vic). The School of Nursing and Midwifery have formulated a policy and students should be aware of the drug administration policy relevant to their 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'.

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.

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 with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and to apply for employment as a paramedic within Australian ambulance services. International recognition of the qualifications occurs for both professions.

First year

Semester one

• BEH1011 Clinical concepts of paramedic practice
• BMA1901 Human structure and function 1
• NUR1001 Professional and scholarly communication
• NUR1010 Foundations of nursing practice

Semester two

• BEH1102 Clinical concepts of paramedic practice 2
• BMA1912 Human bioscience in nursing
• NUR1102 Health assessment in clinical practice
• NUR1205 Population and socio-cultural health research

Second year

Semester one

• IPE1011 Foundations of health in primary clinical care 1
• NUR2106 Integrated nursing practice 1
• NUR2107 Person centred mental health care

Semester two

• NUR1202 Legal issues and concepts
• NUR2206 Integrated nursing practice 2
• NUR2207 Mental health clinical practice 1

Third year

Semester one

• BEH2131 Paramedic management of cardiovascular conditions
• NUR3001 Evidence based health care
• NUR3002 Nursing practice context 3
• NUR3003 Education for clinical practice

Semester two

• BEH2012 Paramedic management of respiratory conditions
• BEH2022 Paramedic management of trauma
• BEH2142 The paramedic in the community

Summer semester A

• BEH2032 Paramedic clinical practice 1

Fourth year

Semester one

• BEH2121 Paramedic management of maternal and neonatal health
• BEH3011 Paramedic management of medical conditions
• NEH4001 Preparing for interprofessional practice

Semester two

• BEH3032 Paramedic management of critical care specialty situations
• NEH4012 Interprofessional practice in community hospital settings
• NUR3005 Chronic illness management in primary care

Students may exit from this double-degree program and enrol in and complete the requirements of one of the single degrees below:

• 0727 Bachelor of Nursing
• 3445 Bachelor of Emergency Health (Paramedic).

Bachelor of Emergency Health (Paramedic)
Bachelor of Nursing