Bachelor of Nursing (BNUR) - BN

QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Toowoomba campus: 906392; Fraser Coast campus: 916392

CRICOS code (International applicants): 059707M

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Program focus

This degree prepares students for the nursing profession as a Registered Nurse. Clinical experience is undertaken by students throughout the program and includes a wide variety of health care settings. Students will develop competency in nursing by actively participating in nursing laboratories at the University and through relevant clinical experience. Almost 50 percent of the program is devoted to clinical practice within simulated labs or in settings, such as large general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, smaller country hospitals, aged care settings, community health services, special clinics and rehabilitation centres. This program offers practical skills in addition to a comprehensive theoretical body of knowledge and the development of a full range of clinical and interpersonal skills needed to function as an effective practitioner. The Department of Nursing and Midwifery is committed to encouraging and enhancing the capacity for independent and critical thought, reflective practice and preventative health care.

Career opportunities

Registered Nurse – Public and Private General and Psychiatric Hospitals, Community Health, Mental Health, Aged Care, Paediatric and Adolescent Health, Home Health Care, Indigenous Health, Occupational Health, Rural Practice, Overseas Nursing. This program is a pathway to graduate entry Midwifery and Mental Health programs and other specialties within nursing and health care.

Professional accreditation

The Bachelor of Nursing at USQ is accredited by the Queensland Nursing Council.

Program aims

The Bachelor of Nursing program provides the graduate with the knowledge and skills to apply to the Queensland Nursing Council for registration as a nurse.

Program objectives

On completion of the Bachelor of Nursing program at USQ, students will be able to:

• meet the educational requirements for registration with the Queensland Nursing Council

• demonstrate the attributes of a USQ graduate in the domains of:

  • Discipline Expertise

  • Professional Practice

  • Global Citizenship

  • Scholarship

  • Lifelong Learning

  
  

• consistently demonstrate the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council Standards in the areas of:

  • Professional Practice

  • Critical Thinking and Analysis

  • Provision and Coordination of Care

  • Collaborative and Therapeutic Practice

  
  

• provide health care which reflects an understanding of contemporary Australian society and addresses the particular needs of Indigenous Australians, multicultural groups, older persons and people from rural and remote locations.

Admission requirements

For entry into the Bachelor of Nursing program, applicants will require Queensland Senior School Certificate (Year 12) or equivalent with both:

• English (four semesters Sound Achievement) or equivalent. International applicants must have met the University's English language requirements or have completed the University's ELICOS/UNIPREP programs.

• recommended study in one of Biological Science, Chemistry, Physics or Multi-strand Science or equivalent and recommended study in Mathematics.

Candidates for admission into this program must satisfy the normal USQ entry requirements for undergraduate programs. Please refer to Academic Regulation 5.4.2 of the University Calendar, Section 1. (for Australian students)

Endorsed Enrolled Nurses applying for exemptions must supply documentation including a certified copy of their Diploma of Nursing and a certified copy of their current Enrolment licence from the Queensland Nursing Council or equivalent registering body.

Students must be willing to undertake and submit the requirements of the University of Southern Queensland and Queensland Health for clinical placement. These include:

1. evidence of Hepatitis B immunisation with positive sero conversion titre levels

2. a current CPR certificate

3. a signed Queensland Health Check list and deed polls

4. a Blue Card from the Queensland Government Commission for Children and Young People and Young Guardian.

How to apply

Domestic students

Application for undergraduate programs may be made through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). The same procedure applies whether you plan to study on-campus or by distance education.

If you completed Year 12 at a Queensland secondary school you will be assessed for entry on the basis of your Overall Position (OP) or equivalent score. Year 12 students from other states or territories are considered for entry on the basis of their UAI, ENTER or TER and the subject prerequisites indicated. Other applicants will be based on their overall Rank. You should ensure you submit your application by the closing dates.

International students

This program is offered to international students. An international student is a person who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen and not an Australian permanent resident. Please refer to USQ International for information about entry requirements, visa arrangements and how to apply.

Program fees

Student contribution amount

For domestic students who are offered Commonwealth supported places, the Government pays some money directly to the University, but students are also required to make a contribution. This contribution is called the ‘student contribution’. For more information about student contribution amounts, including the calculation of fees for a particular program of study, refer to USQ fees.

Tuition fee

Domestic fee-paying places are funded entirely through the tuition/direct fees paid by the student. Tuition/direct fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. For more information about Tuition Fees, including the calculation of fees for a particular program of study, refer to USQ Fees.

International fees

International students pay tuition fees. For details about international student fees, refer to the International Fee Schedule provided by USQ International.

Program structure

The Bachelor of Nursing program consists of 24 credit point units (25 courses) as listed in the standard progression for commencing students.

Requirements to Complete the Program

Students are required to satisfactorily complete all courses. To satisfactorily complete the six clinical courses, students must participate in the required hours of clinical practice offered at off-campus venues and satisfactorily demonstrate the learning objectives of these courses.

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 6 years to complete this program.

Endorsed Enrolled nurses with 8 credit point exemptions have a maximum of 4 years to complete this program.

Clinical requirements

Clinical experience is an integral component of the program and each student is required to undertake and satisfactorily complete 840 hours of clinical experience. Students will be required to attend clinical experience in the Toowoomba Health District and surrounding areas (Toowoomba Campus students) and the Fraser Coast Health District (Fraser Coast Campus students). Students also need to be aware that clinical placement can sometimes be in rural and remote settings away from their home campus.

Clinical courses will incur some additional expenses for students including uniform and equipment; transport to and from venues and in some instances: living expenses. Some clinical occurs in block placements (2 - 4 weeks full time attendance) which requires student flexibility with commitments such as employment outside of the University.

Progression into clinical courses is dependent upon a pass grade in theoretical and other clinical courses which have been set as pre-requisites.

Prior to signing up for Clinical: It is a requirement of the University of Southern Queensland and Queensland Health that all students must have evidence of Hepatitis B immunisation with positive sero conversion titre levels and a current CPR certificate. Students must be willing to submit a signed Queensland Health Check list and deed polls.

All students are required to apply for and obtain a Blue Card from the Queensland Government. Full uniform including appropriate work shoes is mandatory.

IT requirements

Students should visit the USQ Recommended Hardware and Recommended Software sites to check that their computers are capable of running the appropriate software and versions of Internet web browsers and to check the minimum and recommended standards for software.

Exemptions

Enrolled Nurses: Enrolled Nurses with a Diploma of Nursing from a TAFE institute or equivalent may apply to be awarded exemptions from the program up to a total of eight units of courses (two standard semesters). Enrolled nurses and Endorsed Enrolled Nurses should contact cenrolq@usq.edu.au for advice on possible exemptions. Exemptions must comply with the university regulations from Section 5.5.5.

Transfer Students: Students who wish to transfer components of other accredited Bachelor of Nursing programs and students with prior university credit should contact cenrolq@usq.edu.au to apply for possible exemptions. Exemptions must comply the University regulations from Section 5.5.5.

Other information

Students who enrolled into the program in 2006 will follow a modified program that is congruent with the re-accredited curriculum.

Enrolment

Accelerated progression

Students may schedule their courses to complete the program in six consecutive semesters (two years total). This option will require an uninterrupted progression through the program and is only available when commencing in Semester 1. Students should be advised that this option requires continuing study without normal semester breaks. Students are required to complete the normal clinical experience requirements of this program which includes attendance for a total of 840 hours of clinical practice at arranged clinical facilities off-campus and satisfactory completion of the course requirements. This mode may not suit the visa requirements of international students; international students are asked to refer to information provided by USQ International.

Part-Time Enrolment

Students may choose to take a diminished load of courses each semester to study part-time. A suggested enrolment pattern for three courses per semester is available below. Students may also vary their course load by taking courses as available (depending on quotas) which are offered in semester three (3). Please note there will be periods of full-time attendance required in these options such as in clinical courses. Students are required to complete the program within six years. A Part-time mode may not suit the visa requirements of International students.

Mid-year intake

Students may commence the program in Semester 2 in an alternative progression. The earliest the program could be completed with this entry would be in three and one half years including some use of semester three enrolment and some semesters with a full-time load (four courses). Students who have entered in mid-year, may choose to articulate into the accelerated progression program in the following semester one (2010) after their part-time study in 2009. In this progression, to complete the program in eight semesters after a mid-year intake, students would take four courses in the majority of their remaining semesters including semester three of 2010 and 2011.

It should be noted that some courses in a mid-year intake will be taken out of sequence which does not disadvantage the student in terms of pre-requisites but may require taking courses without the recommended prior study. Because of the time frame of this mid-year entry, this mode may not suit the visa requirements of some international students. International students are asked to refer to information provided by USQ International.

A full-time option is available for Endorsed Enrolled nurses commencing in semester two. Please see the progression pattern available below.

Progression policy

Students are advised to consult with program support sciences.enrolment@usq.edu.au in situations where their progression is affected either by failure in pre-requisite courses, or where they choose a part-time study pattern.

In this section:

• Recommended enrolment pattern full time semester one entry
• Recommended Enrolment Pattern for Accelerated Progression (6 Semester Consecutive Progression)
• Recommended enrolment pattern for Endorsed Enrolled Nurses semester one entry
• Recommended enrolment pattern for Endorsed Enrolled Nurses semester two entry
• Recommended enrolment pattern for students starting program in Semester 1 - suggested part-time enrolment to complete in 4 years
• Recommended enrolment pattern for students starting program in Semester 2- suggested enrolment to complete in 3.5 years

Recommended enrolment pattern full time semester one entry

Recommended Enrolment Pattern for Accelerated Progression (6 Semester Consecutive Progression)

Recommended enrolment pattern for Endorsed Enrolled Nurses semester one entry

Recommended enrolment pattern for Endorsed Enrolled Nurses semester two entry

Recommended enrolment pattern for students starting program in Semester 1 - suggested part-time enrolment to complete in 4 years

Recommended enrolment pattern for students starting program in Semester 2- suggested enrolment to complete in 3.5 years