Diploma of Nursing

Admissions

Entry into this course is based on an applicant's literacy and numeracy skills (ACSF Exit Level 3 - working at Level 4) or satisfactory VCE completion with minimum score of 20 for English or 25 in EAL and satisfactory score for Units 1 and 2 in Maths. It is recommended that all applicants attend a course information session.

For information on essential physical and behavioural abilities needed to perform assessment tasks and professional placements, please review the Informed Choices statement.

Course prerequisites

• Satisfactory completion of VCE, with a minimum score of 20 for English or 25 in EAL and satisfactory score for Units 1 and 2 in Maths

or

• ACSF Exit Level 3 (working at Level 4), or above, in both literacy and numeracy as determined at a supervised testing session conducted at Swinburne University, Wantirna Campus.
   

Further information including the registration process and, dates and times for on-Campus literacy and numeracy testing sessions and Information Sessions, can be found at https://www.swinburne.edu.au/register/nursing/. Please read this information carefully.

Other requirements

English language requirements

The Diploma of Nursing has program entry criteria set by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council. All students entering this program must demonstrate they have achieved the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) specified level of English language skills, prior to commencing the program.

You must demonstrate your English language competency in one of the following ways:

• English is your primary language and you have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed in English in one of the recognised countries*, including at least two years between years 7 and 12.
  
• You have successfully completed at least five (5) years (full-time equivalent) continuous education taught and assessed solely in English, in a recognised country that is a combination of:

a)    tertiary and secondary education taught and assessed in English; or

b)    tertiary and vocational education taught and assessed in English; or

c)    combined tertiary, secondary and vocational education taught and
           assessed in English; or

d)    tertiary education taught and assessed in English

• The last period of education must have been completed no more than five years prior to applying for registration.
• Test pathways – below is a list of the approved tests and the minimum scores required:
  
  • IELTS (academic Module) with a minimum overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components
  • OET with a minimum score of B in each of the four components
  • PTE (Academic) with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills
  • TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and a minimum score of 24 in listening, 24 in reading, 27 in writing and 23 in speaking

* Recognised countries include Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa or the United States of America.

Additional requirements

• Applicants must be 18 years of age at the time of placement
• NDIS Worker Screening Check – this process includes a National Police Check**
• Working with Children Check (Volunteer or Employee) for the duration of the program.

**If a candidate believes there would be a disclosable issue on their National Police Check, a confidential conversation will be required prior to enrolment to determine suitability for work within the healthcare environment.

Immunisations

This course requires up-to-date evidence of immunisations. If you are not willing to provide up-to-date evidence, you may not be eligible to complete this program.

Immunisation requirements may include the following:

• COVID19.
• Measles / Mumps / Rubella
• Diphtheria / Tetanus/ Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
• Varicella (Chickenpox)
• Hepatitis B
• Influenza (Annual requirement)
• Tuberculosis Screening – QuantiFERON Gold test
   

For more information about the minimum immunisation requirements please download the:

• Vaccination for healthcare workers information
• COVID19 Worker vaccination requirements
   

Additional immunisations may be required in response to any changes in Government policy or the specific requirements of the organisation you attend for your clinical placement. Further information will be provided at the commencement of the course.

Informed Choices Statement

View the Informed Choices statement, which provides information about the inherent requirements of nursing, specifically the essential physical and behavioural abilities needed to perform assessment tasks and professional placements in nursing and progress to a career in this field. This information is intended to assist you to choose whether you can successfully participate in and complete a course.

Credit transfer

Recognition of prior learning

Course structure

The course consists of 25 units of study made up of 20 core units and five elective units.

The program is structured in to 3 phases of study, all 6 months duration and each with their own focus. Phase 1 provides foundational understanding of human anatomy and the development of patient assessment skills to enable recognition of deterioration and appropriate responses.

Phase 2 builds on previously acquired knowledge and prepares the student for delivering nursing care in a more complex setting, which includes the administration of medications.

The final phase of delivery focuses on knowledge of specific care and disease processes and nursing management and medication administration, including IV medication administration and therapies. The objective of this phase is to bring all acquired skills and knowledge together to ensure you can recognise and respond to deterioration appropriately and maintain patient safety in the clinical environment.