- Focus on primary health care as it influences health and the practice of nursing and midwifery
- Support to provide continuity of midwifery care for women throughout their pregnancy, birth and postnatal period
- Professional placements and extended internships in both nursing and midwifery
Program summary
Program title: Bachelor of Nursing Science / Bachelor of Midwifery
Award abbreviation: BNursSc/BMid
QTAC code: 013461
OP / Rank for 2013 entry: OP-9 / Rank-82
Duration: 4 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Commence: Semester 1
Study mode: on campus
Recommended prior study: English; Maths A, B or C; and at least one of the sciences
Recommended prior preparation: Criminal History check, Hepatitis B immunisation, First Aid and CPR training (refer to Program Requirements)
Fee type 2013: Commonwealth supported places, fee paying places
Total units: 384
USC program code: SC394
CRICOS code: Not available to international students on a Student visa.
The Bachelor of Nursing Science / Bachelor of Midwifery program aims to prepare graduates to meet the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse and Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Midwife. The program will prepare students to practice in a range of health care settings and to contribute to improving health outcomes through nursing and midwifery practice. Graduates will be prepared to practice as a midwife as defined by the International Confederation of Midwives.
Additional admission requirements
This program has higher English language proficiency requirements than most other programs at this level offered by the University.
Refer to the English language requirements for more information.
Post-admission requirements
Before undertaking clinical placement you are required to obtain and maintain a current First Aid and CPR Certificate, provide evidence of Hepatitis B vaccination, undergo a National Criminal History Check and obtain a Suitability Card. Refer to Program requirements and notes.
Career opportunities
Career opportunities for registered midwives include hospital based and community midwifery, group practice, and team midwifery in metropolitan, rural and remote locations.
Career opportunities for registered nurses includes acute and community practice, general practice, rural and remote practice, and speciality practice.
Professional recognition
Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as a nurse and also as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
Graduates of the double degree will be eligible for membership to the Australian College of Midwives and the Australian College of Nursing.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia have a number of registration standards. Graduates must demonstrate that they meet these standards in order to be eligible for registration. These include:
- English language standard: graduates must demonstrate English language skills at IELTS level 7 or equivalent before being considered for professional registration. Test results from relevant examinations will generally need to be obtained within two years prior to applying for registration.
- Criminal History standard: applies to all applicants and all registered health practitioners.
- Professional indemnity insurance arrangements standard: Nurses and midwives must not practise their professions unless they are covered in the conduct of their practice by appropriate professional indemnity insurance.
- Continuing Professional Development Standard: Nurses and midwives must meet the continuing professional development standards.
- Recency of practice registration standard: Nurses and midwives must have undertaken sufficient practice to demonstrate competence in their professions within the preceding five years.
Please refer to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website for additional information on the Board's Registration Standards.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the organisation responsible for the implementation of the National Registration and Accreditation scheme across Australia. AHPRA supports the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, which is responsible for regulating nursing and midwifery. Please refer to the AHPRA website for detailed information.
Student registration
Students in nursing and midwifery programs are required to be registered with AHPRA as students under the National Law. The university arrange for your registration, you do not need to do anything to register. Please refer to the AHPRA website for detailed information.
Enquiries
- Contact Student Administration for application and admission information
- Contact the Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering for program advice
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- complete all courses (384 units) as listed below
- attend courses offered in Sessions (where applicable)
In order to commence clinical placement you must:
- Hold a valid Suitability Card (Blue Card), throughout the duration of your program, which is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). You should allow 12 weeks for CCYPCG to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the clinical practice component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements.
- have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority)
- show evidence of complete Hepatitis B vaccination (3 inoculations over a period of six months)
- hold a current First Aid and CPR certificate from an organisation recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council
Students are expected to:
- travel to attend clinical placements
- make time commitment to complete the required clinical requirements including midwifery continuity of care experiences; students are required to complete 20 continuity of care experiences with women and their families, which will mean engagement in the program across the full calendar year
- have a level of computer literacy, including word processing and email
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and undertaking some courses in Session 4 (Winter) or 8 (Summer).
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
- The Global Opportunities (GO) Program is not available to students studying in the Bachelor of Nursing Science/Bachelor of Midwifery program.
- When enrolling, please refer to the Study Plan.
Program structure
Introductory courses (12)
COR109
HLT100 Anatomy and Physiology
HLT121 Midwifery Foundations
HLT122 Developing Midwifery #
HLT123 Midwifery Practice 1 #
HLT131 Practice Principles for Midwifery
HLT132 Introduction to Midwifery Practice
LFS103 Introductory Bioscience
NUR103
NUR121 Health Care and the Professions
NUR131 Research Foundations for Health Practice
NUR212 Contexts of practice: child, youth and family
Advanced courses (18)
HLT201 Therapeutics in Midwifery ^
HLT202 Midwifery Practice 2 #
HLT203 Collaborative Midwifery Practice #
HLT221 Human Pathophysiology
HLT301 Contexts of Practice: Mental Health Care
HLT310 Leadership and Governance in Maternity Care %
HLT311 Midwifery Practice 3 ^
HLT312 Midwifery Internship %
NUR202
NUR211
NUR222 Health, Law and Ethics
NUR231 Drug Therapy
NUR241 Contexts of Practice: Health Alteration
NUR300 Nursing Internship
NUR311 Preparation and Nursing Practice 4
NUR331 Contexts of Practice: Complex Care
NUR332 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety
NUR341
# Students should be aware these courses are not available until 2014
^ Students should be aware these courses are not available until 2015
% Students should be aware these courses are not available until 2016
This Bachelor of Nursing Science / Bachelor of Midwifery Study Plan is for students commencing in Semester 1, 2013.
Year 1
- Eight (8) required courses:
COR109 and LFS103 should be studied in Semester 1
Required courses: (8)
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| COR109 Ethics and Professional Practice | |||
| LFS103 Health, Society and Culture | |||
| HLT121 Understanding Cultural Diversity | |||
| HLT131 Social Work Field Education 1 | |||
| HLT100 Community Development and Social Action | |||
| HLT132 Critical Social Policy Analysis | |||
| NUR103 Organisational Contexts for Social Work Practice | |||
| NUR212 Social Work Field Education 2 |
Year 2
Required courses: (8)
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| HLT122 Critical Social Work Practice | |||
| HLT123 Communication and Thought | |||
| HLT301 Introductory Bioscience | |||
| NUR121 Midwifery Foundations | |||
| HLT203 Practice Principles for Midwifery and Nursing | |||
| HLT202 Anatomy and Physiology | |||
| NUR222 Health Assessment in Nursing and Midwifery Practice | |||
| NUR131 Nursing Practicum 1 |
Year 3
- Eight (8) required courses:
NUR202 will be offered in Session 8 (Summer) in 2015 for this program
HLT201, HLT311 are not available until 2015
Required courses: (8)
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NUR241 Caring for Child, Youth and Family | ||||
| NUR211 Developing Midwifery | ||||
| HLT221 Midwifery Practice 1 | ||||
| NUR231 Challenges to Mental Health | ||||
| HLT201 Health, Culture and Society | ||||
| HLT311 Advancing Midwifery | ||||
| NUR331 Contexts of Practice: Complex Care |
| 12 | Pre: NUR241 and NUR231 and enrolled in Program SC391 or SC392 | |
| NUR202 |
Year 4
- Six (6) required courses:
NUR300 should be studied in Session 4 (Winter)
HLT310, HLT312 are not available until 2016
Required courses: (6)
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NUR341 | ||||
| NUR311 Preparation and Nursing Practice 4 |
| 12 | Pre: (NUR202 or NUR287) and NUR231 and NUR331 and enrolled in Program SC391, SC392 | |
| HLT310 Leadership and Governance in Maternity Care |
| 12 | Pre: HLT203 and enrolled in Program SC393 | |
| NUR300 Nursing Internship |
| 24 | Pre: (NUR287 and NUR303 and NUR304) or NUR311 and enrolled in Program SC391, SC392. Session 4 offering is for students who commenced in a mid year offering of SC391 and any student in SC392. | |
| HLT312 Midwifery Internship |
| 24 | Pre: HLT310 and HLT311 and enrolled in Program SC393. Session 4 offering only for RN pathway students in SC393. | |
| NUR332 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety |
| 12 | Pre: NUR117 or NUR141 or HLT132 and enrolled in Program SC391, SC392 or SC393 |