Students gain a dual qualification in nursing and midwifery.
Introductory courses provide a foundation in midwifery and nursing practice, bioscience and health assessment. Students complete continuity-of-care experiences with women and their families and a range of other clinical placements in both nursing and midwifery. Graduates are prepared to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Competency Standards for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives. Graduates are prepared to practise as midwives as defined by the International Confederation of Midwives.
Introductory courses provide a foundation in midwifery and nursing practice, bioscience and health assessment. Students complete continuity-of-care experiences with women and their families and a range of other clinical placements in both nursing and midwifery. Graduates are prepared to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Competency Standards for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives. Graduates are prepared to practise as midwives as defined by the International Confederation of Midwives.
Post-admission requirements
Before undertaking clinical placement, students must obtain and maintain a current first aid and CPR certificate, provide evidence of hepatitis B immunisation, undergo a criminal history check and obtain a Blue Card. Refer to Program requirements and notes.
Career opportunities
Registered midwife / nurse in hospital or community settings, metropolitan, rural and remote locations or independent practice.
Membership
Australian College of Midwives; Australian College of Nursing.
Registration
Students in nursing and midwifery programs are required to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as students under the national law. USC arranges registration. Refer to the AHPRA website for detailed information.
Program structure
For students commencing Semester 1, 2014. All other students please refer to previous handbooks.
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 Counselling Theory and Practice
HLT100 Communication and Thought
HLT121 Anatomy and Physiology
HLT122 Midwifery Foundations #
HLT123 Developing Midwifery #
HLT131 Midwifery Practice 1
HLT132 Practice Principles for Midwifery and Nursing
LFS103 Health Assessment in Nursing and Midwifery Practice
NUR103 Introductory Bioscience
NUR121 Nursing Practicum 1
NUR131 Health, Culture and Society
NUR212 Research Foundations
Advanced courses (18)
HLT201 Caring for Child, Youth and Family ^
HLT202 Therapeutics in Midwifery #
HLT203 Midwifery Practice 2 #
HLT221 Advancing Midwifery
HLT301 Human Pathophysiology
HLT310 Challenges to Mental Health %
HLT311 Preparing for Midwifery Practice ^
HLT312 Midwifery Practice 3 %
NUR202 Midwifery Internship
NUR211 Nursing Practicum 3
NUR222 Nursing Practicum 2
NUR231 Health Law and Ethics
NUR241 Drug Therapy
NUR300 Health Alteration
NUR311 Nursing Internship
NUR331 Nursing Practicum 4
NUR332 Acute Health Alteration
NUR341 Cultural Diversity in Nursing and Midwifery
# 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