Bachelor
Nurses are the heart and soul of healthcare, and nursing is a career where you can make a positive difference in the lives of others every day.
Our Bachelor of Nursing is taught in state-of-the-art facilities, including laboratories that simulate real healthcare settings. You will develop the ability to apply knowledge and evidence-based clinical reasoning skills to a nursing practice, provide therapeutic care to patients, coordinate and lead nursing care to individuals and groups, and work independently as well as collaborate in multidisciplinary teams for effective, person-centred outcomes.
Supervised clinical placements provide invaluable nursing experience in public and private hospitals and health agencies with an option in third year to undertake a specialised professional experience placement where you can explore your diverse career options.
This degree is a strong foundation for a nursing career in a number of settings, with options including primary health, mental health, chronic disease, leadership and care management. Your employment prospects as a Southern Cross nursing graduate are excellent. In the Good Universities Guide 2020, Southern Cross achieved 5-stars for nursing graduate employment outcomes, and the highest result for a NSW university for graduate median salary (Good Universities Guide 2020).
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the world needs 9 million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030. This year we are joining the WHO in celebrating the Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020, by sharing the stories and successes of the Southern Cross nursing and midwifery community.
Applicants must:
1. provide a written declaration that English is their primary language and:
or
2. have achieved:
Recognised Countries means the following countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, UK and USA
Please note, Rule 2 Schedule B test scores equivalencies do not apply to this course.
In order to register to practice, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency [AHPRA]'s standards for English language must be met. See AHPRA's English Language Skills for further information.
An applicant who has completed a Certificate III qualification will not be admitted solely on the basis of this qualification.
The course is responsive to contemporary nursing practice and provides content and clinical experiences as follows:
Professional areas: nursing knowledge and development, critical thinking and analysis, provision and coordination of person-centred care, independent and collaborative care, primary health care, mental health, acute and complex care, chronic disease management, palliative care, leadership and care management, aged care.
Biological sciences: anatomy, physiology, patho-physiology and pharmacology.
Social sciences: Australian health care system, Indigenous studies, psychology and sociology for health sciences, legal and ethical studies and research methods.
Career opportunities exist as a registered nurse in a range of public and private health settings. Nurses typically deliver acute and chronic disease management in clinical settings such as emergency departments, critical care or operating theatres, paediatrics, and in community and primary healthcare and education. They can work as a practice nurse in GP clinics, in mental health, with children and health, rural and remote area healthcare.
Registered nurses also take on leading roles in non-government organisations (NGOs) such as The Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. They also occupy senior roles in the Australian Defence Forces. With further qualifications they can take on specialist Nurse Practitioner, clinical consultant and executive level roles.
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Nursing, students must complete the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points), comprising all core units.
Exit Awards
Students may be eligible to exit with an Associate Degree of Health and Human Sciences after completing the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points), comprising any 16 core units.
Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Health and Human Sciences after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points), comprising any 8 core units.
Professional Experience Learning
This course includes professional experience learning. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on School of Health and Human Sciences Professional Experience page must be met prior to attending professional experience placement. All professional experience learning hours must be completed and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.
Progression
Students are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 12 months between study of any two (2) units with professional experience learning.
Students are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 12 months between study of a theory unit that relates specifically to a particular unit with professional experience learning.
Students who have an interrupted study sequence of more than 12 months will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and may be required to undertake specified practice or theory to ensure currency prior to continuation of the course.
Duration
The maximum duration for completion of the award of Bachelor of Nursing is seven (7) years in total which includes any period for a leave of absence.
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Access & Inclusion website. Students who have a disability or health condition which may impact on their ability to meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the Student Access & Inclusion website for further information and contact details.