Course description
The course includes studies related to the art and science of nursing as well as the professional and personal development of individual students. Graduates will be eligible for registration as a nurse with the relevant State authority and will be able to practise at beginning levels in the four domains of nursing identified in the Australian Nursing Council Inc. (ANCI) competencies, namely: professional/ethical practice, reflection, problem-solving and enabling.
Graduates will be able to practice at beginning level in all areas of nursing: for example aged care, community, developmental disability, maternal and infant care, medical/surgical, mental health, and paediatric nursing.
Immunisation
As nursing brings students into contact with various communicable diseases it is a requirement of some facilities used for clinical experience that students have appropriate immunisation.
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificate
Students are required to have a current CPR Certificate from an accredited source prior to undertaking clinical practice. The currency of the certificate will need to be validated each year.
Queensland Commission for Children and Young People
In Queensland, all students who work with children and young people as part of their studies will need to apply for a Blue Card. This means that all students of the Bachelor of Nursing course undertaking off campus Clinical Placements will be required to apply for a Blue Card prior to their clinical experience. Failure to hold a Blue Card may prevent students from gaining access to their Clinical Practice placement.
Uniforms
Students will be required to wear the approved University nursing student's uniform during the clinical components of the course. Details concerning the uniform and place of purchase will be given after enrolment.
There are four streams within the curriculum: Nursing Foundations, Applied Science for Practice, Contexts of Nursing and Clinical Nursing Practice. There is vertical and horizontal integration within and between units in the streams. An outline of each stream follows.
Nursing Foundations
This strand of study provides underpinning knowledge and frameworks that inform professional nursing practice. Knowledge applications from a range of disciplines and philosophies are integrated to develop an understanding and appreciation of the discipline of nursing and the complexity of health care. Disciplines and philosophies include ethics, theology, law, psychology, sociology, communication theory, information technology, leadership and research. This strand comprises seven units, two in semester 1 and one in each of the remaining semesters of the course.
Applied Science for Practice
This strand of study provides the underpinning knowledge and frameworks that support Nursing Foundations and Contexts of Nursing units. Knowledge applications from a range of disciplines are integrated to develop understanding and appreciation of clinical practice. The disciplines include anatomy, physiology, microbiology, physical sciences, pathology and pharmacology. This strand comprises five units.
Contexts of Nursing
The units in this strand articulate integration of knowledge to inform the scope of practice. This strand prepares the student with necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to act in the role of the nurse in a variety of nursing contexts. Students will develop practice knowledge to provide holistic care across the lifespan in a variety of contexts. Contexts of Nursing units acknowledge multiple meanings of health and illness influenced by a multicultural society. This strand comprises six units, one is offered each semester of the course.
Clinical Nursing Practice
This strand of study facilitates experience in the application of theory to practice and the development of clinical skills and knowledge. It is intricately linked to, and informed by, other strands within the curriculum. The six units are dedicated to nursing practice in a variety of health care environments.
Professional Recognition
Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Nursing course graduands are eligible to seek registration as Registered Nurses with the relevant State Nurses' Registration Authority.
