Bachelor of Nursing

Bioscience 2 introduces the concepts associated with alterations in health across the lifespan. It will introduce pathophysiology, pharmacology, immunology and microbiology related to health breakdown due to injury or disease. This subject specifically examines the impact of microorganisms on people’s health and the body’s natural defences when dealing with infections and injuries and its significance to person-centred care.

This subject focuses on the development of the role and clinical skills of the registered nurse when promoting, maintaining, and supporting person centred care. A simulated professional task will assist with the development of essential clinical communications and a professional experience placement to evaluate clinical skills development. The subject includes 80 hours of Professional Experience Placement.

This unit is designed to develop students’ knowledge in accessing and making judgements to translate the best available evidence into practice. This also includes the most current, valid and available research findings. General concepts associated with evidence-based health care are explored, including conducting literature searches from a wide range of sources, reviewing and appraising research and other evidence, and using and translating research into practice.

It is imperative that registered nurses and registered midwives have a solid understanding of pharmacology. This subject introduces the principles and core concepts of pharmacology with a distinct emphasis on safe medication administration in nursing and midwifery.

Students will acquire knowledge of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and develop an understanding of actions and reactions caused by commonly prescribed drugs. Electronic medication management systems, patient education and engagement in medication management are also addressed in this subject.

This unit utilises an evidence base to develop an understanding of pathophysiology and pharmacological interventions. It also expands it to nursing care of people who are experiencing acute but usually resolvable alterations in health. A particular focus of this subject are the Australian National Health Priority Areas.

This subject focuses on the development of the role and clinical skills of the registered nurse when assessing and caring for people who are experiencing acute but usually resolvable conditions. A simulated professional task will assist with the development of essential clinical communications and a professional experience placement to evaluate clinical skills development. The subject includes 160 hours of Professional Experience Placement.

This subject develops mental health nursing knowledge and skill required of the nursing workforce across a range of service delivery settings. It explores contemporary models of care such as recovery-oriented practice, trauma-informed care and social determinants approach. Students will plan evidence-based initiatives that promote mental health, prevent and intervene early in illness, facilitate recovery and promote wellbeing.

This unit explores the concepts of chronicity, disability, habilitation and rehabilitation in relation to chronic conditions, functional and intellectual disabilities. It also explores their implications for nursing practice. This unit provides theoretical underpinnings directly related to Professional Practice Experience 4.

This unit utilises an evidence base to develop an understanding of pathophysiology and pharmacological interventions. It also develops an understanding of nursing care for people who experience acute exacerbations of chronic conditions.

This subject focuses on the development of the role and clinical skills of the registered nurse when caring for people experiencing an acute exacerbation of a chronic condition. A simulated professional task will assist with the development of essential clinical communications and a professional experience placement to evaluate clinical skills development. The subject includes 160 hours of Professional Experience Placement.

This subject will specifically enable nursing and midwifery students to investigate, discuss and develop an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and health statistics. It also explores the historical and present-day issues associated with poor health outcomes.

The concepts of cultural safety, health and illness will be discussed in terms of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Students will explore and reflect on the impact of the different attitudes, institutional policies and value systems relating to the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.

Health Variations 5 Palliative and End of Life Care focuses on the palliative approach as a model of care, exploring the benefits of this approach when supporting dying individuals with life-limiting illnesses. Students will also acquire the capabilities to develop self-care strategies to manage their own grief, loss and stress associated with working in a palliative setting.

Health Variations 4 Acute Life-Threatening Conditions utilises an evidence base to develop an understanding of the pathophysiology and pharmacological interventions. It also develops an understanding of nursing care for people who experience acute life-threatening conditions. This subject specifically focuses on detecting and recognising acute deterioration and escalating care.

This subject focuses on the development of the role and clinical skills of the registered nurse when assessing and caring for people who are experiencing acute life-threatening illness and life-limiting illness. A simulated professional task will assist with the development of essential clinical communications and a professional experience placement to evaluate clinical skills development. The subject includes 160 hours of Professional Experience Placement.

Being a Professional Nurse or Midwife explores the process of transition from student to a registered healthcare professional. Students analyse their role as a registered nurse or registered midwife, reflecting on accountability, responsibility, therapeutic and professional relationships, and their capability for practice. This subject will build the capacity within students to meet their professional responsibilities as capable practitioners in nursing or midwifery. Students will have an opportunity to demonstrate their job readiness skills in preparation for new graduate employment opportunities.

This subject addresses a multi-faceted perspectives of healthy and successful ageing. A major focus is to raise awareness about creating an age-friendly community which facilitates older age groups, including those from culturally diverse backgrounds, and Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander peoples, to be actively involved in all community activities to stay connected to people and place that are important to them.

The multiple perspectives of ageing in place integrates biomedical, physical environment/design, legal, ethical, policy, service provision and social contexts of ageing. Knowledge and skills acquired in this subject are useful for planners, managers and health care providers for those working with aged communities. The subject covers evidence-based approaches affecting physical environment, personal characteristics and psychosocial mechanisms that facilitate older people to age successfully.

Mental health assessment is a dynamic and ongoing part of nursing role with vast potential to empower people we work with. While medical doctors often use assessment to develop an explanation for client’s presenting problems, nurses can use mental health assessment to focus on client perceptions and expectations related to their illness, hospitalisation, and care. This unit introduces a range of theories and strategies for exploring different approaches to mental health assessment and application of gathered information in clinical practice.

Students will critically analyse recovery-oriented mental health assessment and have the opportunity to analyse influences of cultural diversity, legal, ethical and professional implications of mental health assessment and documentation. Collaborating with clients, family and others in decision-making processes and taking a strengths-based approach towards mental health assessment is emphasised.

This subject is a capstone unit that provides students an opportunity to consolidate the development of the role and clinical skills of the registered nurse in preparation for transition to graduate practice. A simulated professional task will assist with the development of essential clinical communications. The unit includes 240 hours of Professional Experience Placement.

This unit is worth 20 credit points.