- Program summary
- Program overview
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Special features
- Teaching mode
- Advanced standing, recognition of prior learning, credit and articulation
- Program structure
- Program requirements and notes
- Enquiries
- Recommended enrolment patterns
Program summary
QTAC code: 555808
Duration: 3.5 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Total units: 288 units (normally 24 courses) being 192 (normally 16 courses) completed at the University of the Sunshine Coast and 96 units advanced standing (equal to 8 courses) upon completion of the Diploma at the Southbank Institute of Technology (SBIT)
Fee type 2009: Commonwealth supported places, visiting non-award domestic places, international fee-paying places
Recommended prior study: English, maths, and at least one of the sciences.
Commence: Semester 1
CRICOS code: 056696M/058567D
Program overview
This dual award, offered by the Southbank Institute of Technology (SBIT) and the University of the Sunshine Coast, provides a pathway to registration as a nurse in Queensland. The dual award consists of a diploma through SBIT and a Bachelor of Nursing Science at the University.
The Diploma of Nursing Care (Enrolled/Division 2 Nursing) will prepare you for employment as an Enrolled Nurse. Enrolled Nurses are first-level nurses who practice in all areas of clinical nursing under the supervision of Registered Nurses. The diploma includes medication endorsement, with will allow you to subsequently administer medications to patients.
After you have completed the diploma at SBIT, you will enrol in the Bachelor of Nursing Science at USC. On graduating from this program, you will demonstrate achievement of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council Standards for Registered Nurses and be eligible to apply to become a Registered Nurse in Queensland.
Courses in Bachelor of Nursing Science have a philosophical foundation based on caring and community engagement; a strong foundation in science; and emphasise the integral nature of clinical experience to the development of competence in nursing.
Please note that is full-time program commences only in Semester 1 each year. New students are not required to complete any USC courses until they complete their SCT diploma.
Professional recognition
Graduates of the Diploma of Nursing Care (Enrolled/Division 2 Nursing)/Bachelor of Nursing Science will be eligible to apply for registration as a nurse in Queensland with the Queensland Nursing Council (reciprocal registration eligibility with other Australian states and territories). Students and graduates are also eligible to apply for membership of the Royal College of Nursing Australia, which is affiliated with the International Council of Nurses.
As a lifelong learner, this foundation degree can lead you to further study to develop careers in midwifery, nursing specialties (mental health, intensive care, emergency, perioperative nursing), research, management or education.
Career opportunities
Following registration, graduates will be able to develop a career as a professional nurse in Queensland, interstate and in some overseas countries, working in:
- acute care (public or private hospitals in metropolitan, regional, interstate and overseas)
- community settings (domiciliary nursing, community health)
- rural settings (hospitals, community nursing, flight nursing)
- industry (mining, service, manufacturing, correctional services)
Graduates may also choose to undertake further study to develop careers in:
- midwifery
- nursing specialties (mental health, intensive care, emergency, perioperative nursing)
- research
- management
- education
Special features
- complete both a TAFE diploma and USC degree in just 3.5 years of full-time study
- apply for registration as a nurse in Queensland with the Queensland Nursing Council
Teaching mode
There are different teaching modes between the SCT diploma modules and the University's Bachelor of Nursing Science courses. Diploma modules are face-to-face teaching with performance based assessment. The University's Bachelor of Nursing Science courses involve three or four hours of contact per course per week, generally in the mode of a one-hour lecture and two-hour tutorial. Students complete a further six or seven hours of self-directed learning per course per week. The self-directed learning consists of readings, research, assignments and other assessment items.
Program structure
Diploma of Nursing Care (Enrolled/Division 2 Nursing)
SBIT Modules required for the Diploma of Nursing Care are undertaken at the SBIT campus. For information on the specific modules for this program refer to the student information provided by SBIT.
Bachelor of Nursing Science
16 courses (192 units of credit) to be completed at USC:
LFS112 (A) Human Physiology
NUR131 Research Foundations for Health Practice
NUR142 Holistic Health Assessment
NUR202 Caring Practice: Nursing Practicum 3
NUR212 Caring Practice: Child, Youth and Family
NUR221 Human Pathophysiology
NUR222 Caring Communities: Professional Studies 2
NUR231 Drug Therapy and Disease Transmission
NUR241 Caring Practice: Health Alteration
NUR272 Continuing, Rehabilitative and Palliative Care
NUR300 Caring Practice: Nursing Internship (24 units)
NUR301 Caring Practice: Challenges to Mental Health
NUR311 Caring Practice: Nursing Practicum 4
NUR331 Caring Practice: Acute Health Alteration
NUR341 Caring Practice: the Older Adult
Course substitution: the GO (Global Opportunities) Program
As part of your USC program, you may apply to participate in the GO Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider.
Program requirements and notes
- A current first aid certificate from an organisation recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council by the end of Semester 1 is required.
- Evidence of Hepatitis B vaccination is required before commencing clinical practice in Semester 2.
- A level of computer literacy is required including word processing and email.
- Refer to the Academic Rules.
- Refer to explanation of terms.
- Refer to the recommended enrolment patterns.
- You must have sufficient command of the English language to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients, (s54 Nursing Act 1992)
- The Queensland Nursing Council may require graduates to undertake and pass an examination determined by Council to determine English competence (s57 Nursing Act 1992) before a license to practice is issued.
How to apply
Apply for an undergraduate program.
Enquiries
Southbank Institute of Technology (SBIT)
Tel: +61 7 3244 5000
Email: southbank.tafe@det.qld.gov.au
Refer to www.southbank.edu.au
University of the Sunshine Coast (USC)
Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Tel: +61 7 5430 2869
Email: sheinfo@usc.edu.au