Bachelor of NursingInformation for students commencing 2013

Apply Now

About this Course

Southern Cross University’s nursing degree provides a combination of coursework and clinical experiences to prepare graduates for a career in the health sector. The degree provides the necessary qualification for graduates to be eligible to become a Registered Nurse in Australia.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are suited to careers in a range of clinical areas in the public and private health sectors including in surgical theatres, paediatrics, community health and education, renal dialysis, as practice nurse in GP clinics, child care, aged care, Indigenous health, remote area health, and in mental health.

Professional Recognition

The degree is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and provides the necessary qualification for graduates to be eligible to become a Registered Nurse in Australia.

Professional Placement

Nursing students undertake clinical placements throughout the course in settings relevant to their areas of study, including in government and private hospitals and health agencies throughout New South Wales and South Eastern Queensland.

Major Areas of Study

Clinical experience gained through professional placements provides students with hands-on practical experience in a variety of areas including in:

Course Structure and Units (Subjects)

Important - Please contact the University for confirmation of the course structure prior to acting on this information. The University accepts no liability for any loss suffered by reason of reliance on this information.

To qualify for the Bachelor of Nursing a total of 288 credit points (usually 24 units) must be completed.

Please note that some majors and units may not be available at each location. Unit availabilities are published for each study period and vary from year to year. Please contact the School for further information.

For course rules and a full list of units, please refer to the Specific Award Rules below.

Course Summary

Locations
Distance Education Unavailable
Lismore Session 1
Session 2+
+ Session 2 is not available to international students.
Coffs Harbour Session 1
Session 2+
+ Session 2 is not available to international students.
Gold Coast
Southern Cross Drive, Bilinga
Session 1
Session 2+
+ Session 2 is not available to international students.
Course Duration 3 years full-time; 6 years part-time;
3.5 years minimum for students commencing Session 2
Fees and Charges Domestic fees
International fees
Additional fee information
School School of Health & Human Sciences
Admission, Enrolment and General Enquiries scu.edu.au/enquiries
Further Information Domestic applicants: Ph: 1800 626 481
International applicants: Ph: +61 2 6620 3876; E: intoff@scu.edu.au
Total Units: Award Abbreviation: 2013 ATAR equivalent/OP:
24 BN 68/17
UAC Course Code QTAC Course Code CRICOS Course Code
Coffs Harbour: 335151
Gold Coast: 335164
Lismore: 335101
Coffs Harbour: 055151
Gold Coast: 055471
Lismore: 055011
Coffs Harbour NSW: 016165C
Gold Coast QLD: 077271G
Lismore NSW: 016165C
[Top]

Teaching Methods

On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, clinical practice, laboratories, simulations, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Some units in this course are also available by distance education. Our distance education study option is highly interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Learning Resources

MySCU is a student’s point of entry to a range of online services and resources that support study and student life. The portal includes unit learning sites and information sites where students can access resources, communication tools and useful links that are integral to their studies.

The web-based program Blackboard Collaborate delivers advanced on-line learning environments for students and lecturers to communicate and collaborate through virtual meeting spaces and classrooms. They can share files, presentations, and applications. If the session is recorded, students can view it afterwards.

Learning materials include the provision of unit information guides, study guides and books of readings. Students may need to purchase or access prescribed text books.

The SCU library provides a wide range of services including librarian assistance, print and electronic resources, a document delivery service, catalogues, databases, ebooks, ereadings, and full-text journal literature.

The Academic Skills Development team supports student learning by offering online and on-campus academic skills workshops, email, phone, and one-on-one support.

Assessment Methods

A variety of assessment methods is used in this course including multiple choice examinations, short answer examinations, essay examinations, case studies, tutorial and workshop presentations, debates, written assignments and clinical skills testing. For each unit there are usually two to three assessment items.

Equipment and Facilities

Southern Cross University provides students with modern well equipped teaching spaces such as lecture theatres, classrooms, and studios or laboratories tailored to meet the needs of specific study disciplines. Contemporary audio-visual equipment is standard in most teaching venues, and students have access to computer labs for individual study purposes.

Nursing students access the clinical nursing simulation wards which are fitted with state-of-the art hospital and electronic teaching equipment. Each campus has access to SimMan — an interactive hi-fidelity model which can be programmed to simulate real life conditions and patient scenarios. There are specialised wet and dry anatomy labs. The anatomy and physiology lab has a range of medical and diagnostic equipment including life-sized anatomical models, microscopes, histological slides and dissection equipment, plus interactive computer software. Staff teaching in these labs are practising clinicians.

How to Apply

Pre-requisite Year 12 subjects

There are no pre-requisite subjects required for this course.

On-campus Undergraduate applications

To apply to study an undergraduate degree at a SCU campus, apply online through the NSW Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). For more information please visit either the UAC or QTAC websites: www.uac.edu.au or www.qtac.edu.au. A late fee applies for UAC and QTAC applications received after the 30th of September.

Apply with QTAC

Apply with UAC

International Applicants

Please refer to the International Office website.

International Applicants

Advanced Standing

Your previous study may help you cut time off your degree.

Recognition of Previous Study

Advanced standing may be granted to a student for tertiary studies successfully completed within the last seven years at this university or at another university.

We recommend that you apply for advanced standing at the same time as you apply for admission into this course, because the amount and type of credit awarded will determine your study plan.

For more details and how to apply please visit the Advanced Standing website.

Bachelor of Health and Human Sciences (Honours)
Bachelor of Midwifery
Bachelor of Clinical Sciences
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Specific Award Rules

Important - Please contact the University for confirmation of the course structure prior to acting on this information. The University accepts no liability for any loss suffered by reason of reliance on this information.

See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.

4.1 Admission to Candidature
  1. Applicants for admission to candidature shall normally have satisfied the requirements prescribed in Rule 2 Section 2 of the Rules Relating to Awards as deemed eligible for admission by the School Board and have obtained a level of achievement acceptable to the School Board; and
  2. have an assessable level of English Language ability to the standard for Registration as a Nurse as set out by the relevant Australian Nursing Regulation Authority, from time to time:
    1. International applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency of English deemed acceptable to the School Board, as set out by the relevant Nursing Regulatory Authority; and
    2. have achieved a minimum score of 7.0 in an International English Language Test System (IELTS) on each of the individual bands of reading, writing, speaking and listening.
4.2 Requirements for an Award

To be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Nursing, a candidate shall:

  1. successfully complete not less than twenty-four (24) units comprising all units listed in the Schedule of Units attached to these Rules; and
  2. have satisfactorily met the requirements for all professional experience placement.
4.3 Progression in the Formation Based Learning Units (Clinical or Professional Experience)
  1. Candidates are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 18 months between study of any two (2) of these clinical units.
  2. Candidates who have an Interrupted Study Sequence of more than 18 months will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and may be required to undertake a specified supported professional experience placement to ensure clinical currency prior to continuation with the course.
  3. A candidate who has twice not satisfactorily met the requirements in a Formation Based Learning unit or Professional Experience Placement will either be:
    1. excluded from the award; or
    2. subject to adequately demonstrated grounds of appeal (consistent with University Policy), permitted to conditionally re-enrol in a Formation Based Learning Unit following approval by the Head of School.
4.4 Advanced Standing
  1. Candidates may be considered for advanced standing in the Bachelor of Nursing provided;
    1. that such recognised prior learning complies with guidelines as set out by the relevant Australian Nursing Regulatory Authority relating to Credit for Prior Study in Courses Leading to Registration as a Nurse, (as those guidelines may exist from time to time); and
    2. the academic content of that prior learning is deemed by the School Board to be of an acceptable equivalence to units in the SCU Bachelor of Nursing course.
  2. In exceptional circumstances a candidate may be granted advanced standing greater than 50% plus two (2) by the School Board, which shall notify the Academic Board and the relevant Australian Nursing Authority in all instances.
4.5 Duration

The maximum duration for completion of the award of Bachelor of Nursing is seven (7) years in total which includes any period of leave of absence.

Schedule of Units

* Double-weighted unit.

[Top]