IBNUO - Bachelor of Nursing
- Introduction
- Degree overview
- Degree structure
- Career outcomes
- Recommendations
- Nursing program admission application
- Application for credit
- Degree requirements
- Delivery mode
- EN-credit students
- Procedure for gaining degree
- Further information
Introduction
The Bachelor of Nursing degree is offered for individuals who wish to pursue a career in nursing. The program aims to prepare nurses to be collaborative practitioners, knowledge workers, critical thinkers, planners, coordinators and evaluators of nursing care.
This degree is offered using a flexible mode of delivery. However, the practical nature of this degree means that students will also be required to complete their laboratory work (between 2-4 days each, approximately five times during the course of the program), as well as participate in clinical practice in health care settings.
Students will need to apply for entry into the program. A quota does apply for places. For details concerning the application process, please refer to Nursing program admission application.
Please note: The Bachelor of Nursing is only available to Australian citizens and permanent residents who are living in Australia.
Degree overview
Students will be introduced to nursing skills in laboratory practice settings from the beginning of the degree. The content of the program has been designed to enable graduates to use a collaborative primary health care and population based approach in the delivery of nursing care in a range of settings and to a range of clientele.
Stage 1 units provide students with an understanding of the socio-political and biophysical determinants of health and illness. Integrated concepts include aged care, chronic illness, mental health and indigenous health.
Units in the advanced stages of this program will assist you to develop an understanding of client-centred care as applicable to the Registered (Division 1) Nurse role while studying child, adult and older adult health. These, and other units in the program, are supported by a range of Experiential Learning Activities where students will be engaged in problem solving and project activities, including substantive clinical placements.
Degree structure - 16 units
To qualify for the Bachelor of Nursing from the UniSA, students must complete 16 units, consisting of:
Level 1 - Knowledge, skills and attitudes for understanding (6 units)- NRS111 - Being a Health Professional (9 UniSA points) (includes on-campus workshop) OR NRS170 - Professional Practice Nursing (Div 2/Enrolled Nurses only)
- NRS121 - Human Body 1 (4.5 UniSA points)
- NRS161 - Lifespan Development (4.5 UniSA points)
- NRS141 - Determining Australia's Health (9 UniSA points) (includes optional on-campus workshop)
- NRS151 - Human Body 2 (4.5 UniSA points)
- NRS131 - Cultural Perspectives on Health (4.5 UniSA points)
- NRS221 - Health of Infants, Children and Young People (4.5 UniSA points) (includes on-campus workshop)
- NRS211 - Scientific Basis of Clinical Practice 1 (4.5 UniSA points)
- NRS201 - Health of Adults (9 UniSA points) (includes on-campus workshop)
- NRS231 - Health of Older Adults (9 UniSA points) (includes on-campus workshop)
- NRS241 - Scientific Basis of Clinical Practice 2 (4.5 UniSA points)
- NRS251 - Experiential Learning Activity - Practicum 1 (4.5 UniSA points) (4 week full-time clinical placement)
- NRS341 - Systems and Organisation of Nursing Care (9 UniSA points) (includes on-campus workshop)
- NRS351 - Experiential Learning Activity - Practicum 2 (9 UniSA points) (8 week full-time clinical placement)
- NRS311 - Contexts of Nursing Practice (9 UniSA points) (includes on-campus workshop)
- NRS331 - Experiential Learning Activity - Practicum 3 (9 UniSA points) (8 week full-time clinical placement)
Please visit the OUA website for more information about the Bachelor of Nursing.
Career outcomes
The shortage of nurses in Australia has become an issue of national significance. Opportunities for nursing graduates are numerous in many regions across Australia. The Bachelor of Nursing is accredited by the Nurses Board of South Australia. Students who complete the requirements of the degree are eligible to register with the Nurses Board of South Australia as a Registered Nurse (RN). Mutual recognition arrangements are in place to enable registration between Australian states.
Recommendations
Due to the rigorous demands of the degree, students are advised that they should be physically fit. Students may also be required to undergo medical examinations before commencing their clinical practice (as determined by the relevant health care organisation hosting the placement). Students are advised to consult their general practitioner or local government immunisation service to be screened and immunised for infectious diseases as recommended by The Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition, Table 2.3.6, page 122^ and to check that all other standard childhood immunisations are up-to-date, as per the state in which the student resides. Failure to satisfy such requirements may limit placement opportunities in some health care settings.
Nursing program admission application
The Bachelor of Nursing degree has a quota for entry due to the limitations associated with providing clinical placements. There are two categories from which students may be granted entry into the program:
1. Existing Nursing or Health Care qualifications in Australia
- are eligible to enrol as an Enrolled Nurse or equivalent (for example, Registered Nurse, Division 2 in Victoria; Diploma of Nursing, certificate EN) AND have a current practicing certificate
2. Education, qualifications or training in areas other than Nursing
- completion of 0.5fte before a GPA is calculated-ranked on basis of GPA
- qualified for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), with recorded achievement in five SACE subjects taken at Stage 2 stage which include at least four Stage 2 subjects that are approved Higher Education Selection Subjects (HESS); or equivalent Year 12
- obtained a competitive TER-applicants ranked by TER
- have passed other TAFE Diploma or Associate Diploma
Additionally, due to the specialist nature of this degree, all applicants to the Bachelor of Nursing must meet the following requirements:
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and be residing in Australia
- obtain a National Police Certificate
- possess a current Senior First Aid Certificate
For further information about the application process, please read the pdf below, or contact the OUA UniSA Student Advisers at the University of South Australia.
Nursing application information 2010 (PDF 142KB - download Adobe Acrobat)
Application for credit
Students seeking credit for previous study or work experience need to contact a Student Adviser at UniSA to discuss credit policies and the documentation required. Applications for credit need to be submitted within 2 weeks of receiving an offer to register and this can be no later than 4 weeks prior to the close of the registration. the Credit applies for studies completed within the past 10 years. UniSA will accept applications for credit received within two weeks of receiving an offer of admission in the program. The Student Adviser may assist with study plans if required.
For further information, please refer to the Ask OUA @ UniSA FAQs on Credit and exemption.
Degree requirements
Students must meet the following requirements to be awarded the Bachelor of Nursing:
- Complete a total of 16 units (with eight units being double units)
- Complete the correct pre/co-requisites for each unit
- Students must complete clinical practice of a 4 week block in Stage 2 and two 8 week blocks in Stage 3
- Students need to complete designated skills laboratory workshops for specific units
- Students must complete the required clinical placement satisfactorily in order to progress through the degree
- The degree can be taken full-time (three years) or part-time (six years) program
- Clinical requirements are integral to this program. Due to limited placement availability and/or a required from a placement venue that a student be assessed directly by a University staff member, some interstate and non-metropolitan students may be requested to attend a placement in metropolitan Adelaide
Delivery mode
This degree is delivered externally via online mode. Students are required to complete skills laboratory work on-campus, while clinical placements will take place in health care and community settings. Clinical placements will be negotiated in state capitals and regional centres dependent on availability.
Full-time students
Commencing students undertaking this degree full-time should undertake units in the following sequence:
| Study Periods | Units | Total UniSA points |
|---|---|---|
| Study Period 1 | NRS111 -
Being a Health Professional (9 points)
NRS121 - Human Body 1 (4.5 points) |
13.5 points |
| Study Period 2 | NRS131 -
Cultural Perspectives on Health (4.5 points) NRS161 - Lifespan Development (4.5 points) |
9 points |
| Study Period 3 | NRS141 -
Determining Australia's Health
(9 points) NRS151 - Human Body 2 (4.5 points) |
13.5 points |
Printable version of the full-time study plan (PDF 218KB - download Adobe Acrobat)
Part-time students
Commencing students undertaking this degree part-time should undertake units in the following sequence:
| Study Periods | Units | Total UniSA points |
|---|---|---|
| Study Period 1 |
NRS111 - Being a Health Professional (9 points) |
4.5 points |
| Study Period 2 | NRS131 - Cultural Perspectives on Health (4.5 points) OR NRS161 - Lifespan Development (4.5 points) | 4.5 points |
| Study Period 3 |
NRS141 - Determining Australia's Health (4.5 points) |
4.5 points |
Printable version of the part-time study plan (PDF 217KB - download Adobe Acrobat)
EN-credit students
Commencing students with Enrolled Nurse credit undertaking this degree either part-time or full-time:
Printable version of the Enrolled Nurse with Certificate study plan (PDF 217KB - download Adobe Acrobat)
Printable version of the Enrolled Nurse with Diploma study plan (PDF 218KB - download Adobe Acrobat)
Procedure for gaining degree
Subject to degree requirements, the University of South Australia will award students with a formal qualification upon successful completion of the appropriate Open Universities Australia units. For further information, please refer to the Ask OUA @ UniSA FAQs on Graduation.
Further information
For further information please contact the OUA UniSA Student Advisers.