Bachelor of Nursing - Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse pathway

2024 course information for Domestic Students
2024 course information for International Students

updated 6:02 AM on Wed, 24 May

Domestic snapshot

International snapshot

IELTS
View full English language requirements
ATAR
N/A
Duration
2 years full-time; 3 years part-time

for students who have completed the approved Health Training Package Diploma in Nursing

2 years full-time

for students who have completed the approved Health Training Package Diploma in Nursing

Location
Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Lismore
Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Lismore
Start date
March, July
February, June
Course code
3007303
Course abbreviation
BN(EN)
Credit points
288
Equivalent units
24
CRICOS
View in availability and fee details
Fees
Commonwealth supported
Fees
View in availability and fee details

Please note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.

Course overview

The Bachelor of Nursing Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse Pathway is specifically designed for enrolled nurses to become registered nurses in just two years (or part-time equivalent).

Specialist conversion units lead into units that build knowledge in professional nursing, biological sciences and social sciences, building on your professional experience and previous study. You’ll have the opportunity to undertake Professional Experience Placement in a variety of settings based on availability and supervisory facilities and learn in state-of-the-art facilities with interactive models and simulation laboratories.

This pathway program is for Enrolled Nurses who are graduates of an ANMAC-approved HLT51612 Diploma in Nursing (Enrolled-Division 2 Nursing), HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing or HLT54115 Diploma of Nursing. The course requires current Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration as an Enrolled Nurse.

Please note: This course may require students to attend intensive workshops at the Gold Coast, Lismore or Coffs Harbour campus.

The Bachelor of Nursing Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse Pathway is specifically designed for enrolled nurses to become registered nurses in just two years (or part-time equivalent).

Specialist conversion units lead into units that build knowledge in professional nursing, biological sciences and social sciences, building on your professional experience and previous study. You’ll have the opportunity to undertake Professional Experience Placement in a variety of settings based on availability and supervisory facilities and learn in state-of-the-art facilities with interactive models and simulation laboratories.

This pathway program is for Enrolled Nurses who are graduates of an ANMAC-approved HLT51612 Diploma in Nursing (Enrolled-Division 2 Nursing), HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing or HLT54115 Diploma of Nursing. The course requires current Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration as an Enrolled Nurse.

Please note: This course may require students to attend intensive workshops at the Gold Coast, Lismore or Coffs Harbour campus.

Current Southern Cross students – to access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook.

Entry requirements

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

An applicant must be an enrolled nurse who holds the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australian [NMBA] approved national training package diploma qualification to practice as an Enrolled Nurse and who is registered with the relevant Australian Nursing Regulation Authority without any restriction on practice.

Credit for prior learning

This course is specifically designed for graduates of the Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled) or Diploma of Nursing.  Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is available for this course. For more information please view the Bachelor of Nursing Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse Pathway RPL Guide.

Language requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows

CategoryScore
Overall Score or equivalent7.0
Reading7.0
Writing7.0
Listening7.0
Speaking7.0

About the course

The course is responsive to contemporary nursing practices and provides content and clinical experiences as follows:

Professional areas: critical thinking and analysis, provision and coordination of person-centred care, independent and collaborative care, primary health care, mental health, acute and complex care, chronic disease management, palliative care, leadership and care management, and aged care.

Biological sciences: anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology.

Social sciences: Australian health care system, caring for Indigenous Australian patients, philosophy, psychology and sociology for health sciences, legal and ethical studies and research methods.

Domestic students

Location Teaching period
Coffs HarbourTerm  1
Gold CoastTerm  1, Term  3
LismoreTerm  1

International students

Location Teaching period Annual Fees CRICOS
Coffs HarbourTerm  1$30,832 ($3,854 per unit)093295K
Gold CoastTerm  1, Term  3$30,832 ($3,854 per unit)093295K
LismoreTerm  1$30,832 ($3,854 per unit)093295K

Tuition fees are in Australian dollars, and are subject to change, including annual increases over the duration of a course. Annual tuition fee is based on completing 8 units per year. In addition students are required to pay OSHC for the duration of their visa in advance. Non-tuition fee covers textbooks, stationery and excursions.

How to apply

Where and when do you want to study?

Applications for this course are made directly to Southern Cross University via our online application service.

Australian/Domestic students

International students studying in Australia

View domestic application details View international application details

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Nursing, students must complete the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points), comprising 15 core units.

Registration

Students must maintain registration, without any restriction on practice, with the relevant Australian Nursing Regulation Authority for the duration of study.   Students who have a restriction imposed are required to discuss this with the Course Coordinator.

Professional Experience Learning

This course includes professional experience learning. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on Faculty of Health Professional Experience page must be met prior to attending professional experience placement. All professional experience learning hours must be completed and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.

Progression

Students are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 12 months between study of any two (2) units with professional experience learning.

Students are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 12 months between study of a theory unit that relates specifically to a particular unit with professional experience learning.

Subsequent to the above, students who have an interrupted study sequence of more than 12 months will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and may be required to undertake specified practice or theory to ensure currency prior to continuation of the course.

Duration

The maximum duration for completion of the award of Bachelor of Nursing is five (5) years in total which includes any period for a leave of absence.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Equity & Inclusion website. Students who have a disability or health condition which may impact on their ability to meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the Student Equity & Inclusion website for further information and contact details.


Course structure


Schedule of units

Unit CodeUnit TitleNotes
PHAR2001Introductory Pharmacology
NURS2012Professional Practice
INDG2001Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples
NURS2013Promoting Wellness in Chronic Health and Disability
NURS2016Introduction to Nursing Research
NURS2017Nursing Practices 1
NURS2018Building Healthy Communities through Impactful Partnerships
NURS2005Mental Health Nursing
NURS3006Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing
NURS3007Nursing Practices 2
HLTH3004Transition to Practice
HLTH3005Interprofessional Health Practice
NURS3001The Nurse as a Leader
NURS3008Paediatric Health: Conception to Adolescence
NURS3010Nursing Practices III Note 1


Notes

Note 1: Double-weighted unit

Why choose SCU?

Excellence in research

Outstanding ratings of 'at world standard' or above in 23 research fields.

Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) 2018

Top 200 Young Universities

Only 25 years young and ranked in the top 200 universities in the world.

Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2020

Outstanding student support

5-Star Student Support across undergraduate and postgraduate studies

Good Universities Guide 2021

Learning outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes.

Course Learning Outcome

Apply in-depth knowledge and skills, with accountability, to inform clinical reasoning in constructing and delivering safe, high quality, person-centred nursing practices.

Use and contribute to research and scholarship as a basis for ongoing professional inquiry and effective knowledge translation to ensure evidence-based and holistic nursing practice.

Incorporate self-reflection, innovation and creativity, integrity, responsibility and accountability in professional practice and lifelong learning.

Meet and adhere to relevant national professional, ethical and legal standards to ensure safe and competent nursing practice.

Apply analytical, clinical and reflective skills in planning, prioritising, implementing and evaluating nursing practices across a range of diverse circumstances and settings.

Work independently and collaboratively with individuals, the nursing team, interdisciplinary healthcare teams and effectively empower and build leadership in the delivery of nursing.

Demonstrate cultural responsivity and respect for the identity and dignity of all persons, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Use threshold academic knowledge and skills including literacy, numeracy and academic integrity to communicate clearly and effectively in oral and written form with a variety of audiences.

Analyse regional, national and global healthcare systems, processes and ecological changes that affect healthcare to inform policy to meet changing societal needs.


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, written assignments, clinical skills testing and verbal knowledge examinations. For each unit there are usually two to three assessment items.

Students are required to demonstrate an ability to develop and meet the Nurses and Midwives Board of Australia Registered Nurse Standards of Practice, maintain a clinical e-portfolio and engage in reflective exercises.

Teaching methods

On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including workshops, tutorials, laboratory classes, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit. Online workshops support face to face tutorials, and laboratory sessions.

Some units in this course are also available online. Our online 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.

Please note: In addition to the weekly online contact, all students may be required to attend intensive workshops at the Gold Coast, Lismore or Coffs Harbour campus. Attendance is mandatory. The benefit of intensive delivery is that students attend classes for a few days in a Teaching Session. The intensive tutorials enable students to gain the benefits of meeting academic staff, having discussions and networking, while also having exposure to resources available for students. Teaching is supplemented by online material and support via 'MySCU'.

Career opportunities

This pathway program enables an Enrolled Nurse to become a Registered Nurse.

Graduate opportunities for registered nurses exist in a range of public and private health sectors, delivering acute and chronic disease care and management in clinical settings such as paediatrics, community health, primary health care and education; as a practice nurse in GP clinics, mental health, childcare, aged care, perioperative care, Indigenous health, rural and remote area health, medical surgical settings, emergency departments and critical care.

Professional placement

Supervised clinical placements of at least 640 hours provide students with experiences of nursing in public and private hospitals and health agencies. This may include acute and low care health facilities; community settings; mental health facilities; extended residential aged care; GP practices; health promotion and education; intensive care; health clinics; accident and emergency; palliative care; primary health care settings and related nursing and health services within metropolitan, regional and rural areas throughout NSW and QLD. Students may be able to undertake national and international clinical placements.

The 640 hours of professional placement is spread across several units within the course. 

Professional experience placements require students to fulfil certain pre-requisites prior to attending any placements. Before applying for this course, it is important that you understand what these requirements are.

 

Professional recognition

The degree is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and provides the necessary academic qualification for eligibility as a Registered Nurse in Australia.

Please note: in order to register to practise, the Australian Health Practice Regulation Agency standards for English must be met.

As a nursing student it is important to be aware of the registration standards required by the NMBA.  See the details on the NMBA website.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing will be registered by Southern Cross University with NMBA as an enrolled student and will remain registered for the duration of study.  Please see the AHPRA website for more details.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is responsible for the registration and accreditation of various health professions in Australia. If you are enrolled in a course to enter one of these professions, we will provide AHPRA with your details for student registration. 
 
You do not need to apply or pay for your student registration. We will provide all the required information to AHPRA directly. You can find more information about AHPRA student registration and what we are required to report to AHPRA on their website.
 
Please be aware that as part of the registration process, AHPRA will collect your personal information (including your USI). AHPRA’s Privacy Policy explains how you may access and seek correction of your personal information held by AHPRA; complain to AHPRA about a breach of your privacy; and how a complaint will be dealt with. AHPRA’s Privacy Policy can be accessed on AHPRA’s Privacy webpage.

Ask a question

Domestic future
students

Call 1800 626 481 during business hours.

International future
students

Call +61 2 6620 3876 during business hours.

Current
students

Email: enquiry@scu.edu.au
Call 1800 005 687 during business hours.

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