Bachelor
The UTS Bachelor of Nursing course prepares students for the exciting and challenging role of the Registered Nurse. This course is comprised of a comprehensive range of theoretical and clinical nursing subjects that together provide the knowledge, skills and professional values graduates require to provide safe, effective and compassionate nursing care. Our graduates are well prepared for clinical practice and are highly sought after for employment in a wide range of healthcare settings across Australian and internationally.
The Bachelor of Nursing course is a three year full-time (or equivalent part-time) course consisting of both theoretical and practical components. Clinical learning is a key element of the course and clinical placements in health care settings begin in the Spring session of first year and continue every session thereafter. Simulation-based learning opportunities are integral to the course and designed to assist students in preparing for clinical placements and their future role as a registered nurse. In their final year of study students can choose a clinical specialty elective, for example paediatrics, critical care, peri operative, palliative care or drug and alcohol nursing.
Career options for registered nurses include diverse specialty clinical areas such as community health, critical care, general practice, aged care, mental health, operating theatres and paediatrics. Career progression opportunities include working as a clinical nurse consultant, clinical nurse specialist, nurse educator, nurse manager, nurse practitioner or rural and remote practice nurse and nurse academic and researcher (clinical and non-clinical). Note: postgraduate study is required for some of these career paths.
The course comprises 144 credit points, made up of nursing theory, science and clinical practice in a range of health facilities. Full-time students study four subjects per session and part-time students study two subjects per session.
This course includes compulsory clinical placement experiences in a variety of healthcare and community settings. Clinical placements begin in the Spring session of first year and continue every session thereafter. They may involve morning and evening shifts. The final year of the course has extended clinical placements of up to six weeks.
Students must meet all the requirements for clinical placements set out in Special requirements and policies. Students are required to be fully vaccinated in order to undertake the Bachelor of Nursing course and must provide evidence of their immunity and/or vaccination status, and screening for tuberculosis (TB) status during their first session of enrolment. Students who do not meet these requirements are unable to undertake clinical placements and as a result are not able to complete the course. Students are also required to undertake Working with Children and Police Checks.
Students must adhere to the requirements in the Ministry of Health policy directive, 'PD2018_009 Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases', prior to commencement of any clinical practice placements.
The policy should be read in full as it outlines students' obligation for screening and immunisation against certain infectious diseases prior to commencing their clinical placement. Students are asked to provide evidence of their immunity or vaccination status, and screening for tuberculosis (TB) status may also be required prior to the commencement of the first clinical placement. Students should be aware that if they do not meet the requirements of the policy they cannot commence the placement and as a result are not able to complete the course.
Students are also required to undertake Employment Checks - Criminal Record Checks and Working with Children Checks.