Bachelor of Nursing

Monash nursing graduates are sought after worldwide because of our teaching quality, which ensures that our graduates possess valuable skills in clinical reasoning, client care, communication, judgement and research developed through extensive clinical experience in a variety of local and international health agencies. These are underpinned and strengthened by our links to world-class medical researchers and major teaching hospitals.

The Nursing course will prepare you for increasingly complex health care situations in Australia and internationally. As a graduate you will have acquired the knowledge and skills to be a competent beginning-level registered nurse who can provide leadership and care across the age continuum, and you will have the scope to provide care in multiple settings, including acute care, primary health care and health promotion.

You will develop knowledge for the safe practice of clinical skills in a variety of health care facilities and services over the course of your studies, and develop a broad range of knowledge in relevant disciplines, enabling you to critically analyse health care situations, concepts and perspectives. You will have plenty of opportunity for clinical experience in diverse settings throughout Victoria and you may also get the opportunity to study and undertake clinical placements in Sweden or the UK under our successful student exchange programs.

Your clinical and professional skills will be further developed through time spent working with students enrolled in other health science courses (ie, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, paramedic, medical imaging, nutrition and dietetics, social work) enabling you to experience interdisciplinary service delivery and inter-professional education.

Successful completion of the course will lead to eligibility for registration as a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. The nursing degree creates local, national and international opportunities in a range of health service areas, such as acute hospital care, mental health, rehabilitation, aged care, community-based care and rural and remote services.

It also provides an excellent foundation for further education and practice in specialist areas of acute medical/surgical nursing, emergency nursing, intensive care, midwifery, paediatrics, peri-operative, mental health, palliative care, oncology, wound care and other areas.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course graduates will be expected to:

1. meet currently accepted standards of nursing practice as set down in the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) National Competencies for the registered nurse
2. 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
3. encompass caring as a foundational concept for nursing practice
4. demonstrate effective communication in the health care setting
5. practice safely and maintain legal and ethical standards of practice
6. identify the health care needs and problems of individuals and groups of people in a variety of settings
7. set priorities in respect of health care needs and problems and make referrals when appropriate
8. 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
9. 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
10. understand the scientific principles underlying safe physical care of the client
11. appreciate the importance of participating in further education
12. understand and appreciate the importance of nursing research and critically analyse and apply research findings to nursing practice
13. develop an ability to work within a team and adopt a collaborative approach to health care, both at an interpersonal and an interdisciplinary level
14. participate in quality improvement programs to ensure quality care practices
15. participate in health teaching to individuals and groups.

Students who have successfully completed a TAFE:

• Certificate IV in Health (Nursing) may apply for credit for up to 24 credit points in the first year of the course
• Diploma of Nursing may apply for credit for up to 48 credit points in the first year of the course.

Students who have completed or commenced other relevant studies may also be considered for credit.

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. Refer to the faculty's police checkspolice checks (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/police-checks.html) webpage.

Working with Children checks

Students must have a current Working with Children check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Refer to the faculty's working with children checksworking with children checks (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/wwc-check.html) webpage.

Immunisation and infection requirements

In accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council recommendations, this course requires that students comply with the faculty's Immunisation and vaccination policy and proceduresImmunisation and vaccination policy and procedures (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/immunisation/). These are designed to provide maximum protection against the increased risk of some vaccine preventable diseases for students, patients and workers in a health care setting.

This policy, and the associated procedures require that students have certain specified vaccinations, and have their blood borne virus status determined, before they commence a clinical placement. Students who have not complied with this policy may not be able to undertake clinical placement, with the attendant academic consequences.

Prospective students are provided detailed information on the effect of blood borne virus infection on the scope of practice of health care workers. Students who test positive to a blood borne virus (including HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C) will be required to consult a specialist medical practitioner approved by the faculty to provide advice on any necessary restrictions on work practices to protect patients and others from infection.

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. Refer to the faculty's clinical guidelinesclinical guidelines (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/nursing/current.html) webpage

This course requires students to undertake off-campus rural and metropolitan 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. 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 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. All students in this course will be required to attend a variety of clinical placements. Travel to metropolitan and rural sites may be required. Clinical experience makes up approximately 50 per cent of the Bachelor of Nursing course. Clinical placements begin in the first year of the degree and will increase in duration and complexity as the student progresses.

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 and unit coordinator on receipt of a medical certificate or other acceptable documentation.

A student may be denied access to or 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 related to clinical placements. 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

Part A. Human bioscience

These studies provide the foundation knowledge of human anatomy and physiology relevant to the allied health professions of nursing and midwifery. You will learn about the biological basis of human health and the working of human body. You will also develop the capacity to critically evaluate evidence in relation to health.

Part B. Sociocultural context of health and illness

These studies focus on the social, economic, and environmental factors that are determinants of health and of access to health care. You will also consider how policy, planning, organisation and delivery of health and healthcare impacts individuals and communities differently and the political and economic imperatives that inform them.

Part C. Clinical assessment and nursing practice

These studies develop your clinical competencies for nursing practice. You will acquire the knowledge and skills needed for the care of individuals including the assessment of clients' health status in order to determine and deliver competent nursing care. You will cover medical and surgical nursing, including pharmacology, pain management, wound assessment and acute care. You will also cover mental health care and care across the age span, focussing on evidence based interventions and management strategies

Part D. Professional practice

These studies focus on your development as a professional who is able to function and communicate both as a member of a health care team and autonomously as required. It will develop your understanding of evidence-based practice in health care delivery and of your responsibility to make professional judgments that are soundly reasoned and well informed by the best available evidence. You will consider the ethical and legal frameworks for health practice and research, and the health professional's relationship and obligations to patients, patient families and professional colleagues in the various health care environments.

In addition:

Part E. Free elective study

This will enable you to further develop your knowledge of nursing or to select units from across the University in which you are eligible to enrol.

This course comprises 144 points, of which 132 points are prescribed Nursing study, and 12 points are available for elective study.

The course develops through theme studies in A. Human bioscience; B. Sociocultural context of health and illness; C. Clinical assessment and nursing practice; and D. Professional practice. Units are clustered under themes that show the main emphasis of the unit, however, most units address more than one theme.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/maps/map-0727.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are six credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A: Human bioscience (12 points)

Students complete:

• BMA1901 Human structure and function
• BMA1912 Human bioscience in nursing

Part B. Sociocultural context for health care (6 points)

Students complete:

• NUR1205 Population and socio-cultural health research utilisation

Part C. Clinical assessment and nursing practice (72 points)

Students complete:

• NUR1010 Foundations of nursing and midwifery practice
• NUR1102 Health assessment in clinical practice
• NUR2106 Integrated nursing practice 1 (12 points)
• NUR2107 Person centred mental health care
• NUR2206 Integrated nursing practice 2 (12 points)
• NUR2207 Mental health clinical practice
• NUR3022 Integrated nursing practice 4
• NUR3005 Chronic illness management in primary care (12 points)

Part D. Professional practice (42 points)

Students complete:

• NUR1001 Professional and scholarly communication
• NUR1105 Foundations of leadership in practice
• NUR1202 Legal issues and concepts
• NUR3001 Evidence based health care
• NUR3003 Education for clinical practice
• NUR3004 Preparing for practice (12 points)

Part E. Free elective study (12 points)

These elective units may be chosen from across the faculty and include those with the prefixes BEH, BMA, MID, NUR and OCC. Refer to the index of units by code in the current edition of the Handbook. Elective units may also be used to sample from across the University if you have the required prerequisites and there are no restrictions on enrolment into the units. The units may be at any level, however, no more than 10 units (60 points) at level 1 can be credited to the course.

Students admitted to the course with credit may need to use these electives to complete required units. Consult with the appropriate course map or the Course Convenor.

Clinical practice

This course requires students to undertake off-campus clinical placements. Clinical experience makes up approximately 50 per cent of the Bachelor of Nursing course. Attendance (100%) is mandatory for the clinical component of each unit. All students will be required to attend a variety of clinical placements. Clinical placements begin in the first year of the course and will increase in duration and complexity as the course progresses. Travel to metropolitan and rural sites may be required.

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 and unit coordinator on receipt of a medical certificate or other acceptable documentation.

A student may be denied access to or 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.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Nursing who achieve a 70 per cent average or higher across units at level 3 are eligible to apply to enrol in the one year Honours degree of Bachelor of Nursing.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Nursing are eligible to apply to enrol in the Master of Nursing.