Bachelor of Nursing

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

• Engage in critical inquiry-orientated healthcare activities as registered nurses, to provide care to individuals, families, and groups from diverse backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, across the lifespan

• Execute high literacy in their use and management of information and evidence-based knowledge for greatest practice effect across a range of healthcare settings

• Participate in and/or leads collaborative practice while actively fostering a culture of safety that includes engaging with health professionals and others to achieve improved health outcomesy

• Accurately and comprehensively conduct nursing practice that supports people to optimise health related decisions, and that are collaborative, culturally safe, evaluated in a timely way towards expected goals and priorities

• Effectively communicate to show the value of communication as a tool for negotiation and creating new understandings, interacting with others, and furthering their own learning using a life-long learning approach

• Engage purposefully in the effective therapeutic care of individuals and the communicating effectively that is respectful of the values, belief, culture, dignity and autonomy of the person

Career opportunities

Swinburne University of Technology offers exceptional nursing education, through innovative teaching and learning and through strong industry partnerships. Our graduates go on to work as nurses in a range of areas including primary health care, acute inpatient medical surgical, chronic disease management, mental health, child and family health, palliative care, community nursing, aged care, workplace safety, rural and Indigenous health and emergency medicine.

Professional recognition

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council accredits the Bachelor of Nursing course and reports the outcome of the accreditation process to the overarching professional body – the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). The NMBA approves the course which enables successful graduates of the Bachelor of Nursing to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse. The NMBA website sets out the registration standards that all registered nurses must meet. Registration of nurses (enrolled and registered) is managed through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Nursing students must complete 300 credit points comprising:

• twenty [20] core units of study - comprising sixteen (16) 12.5 credit point units of study and four (4) 25 credit point units of study

Students must complete 800 Professional Experience Placement hours in order to graduate and register as a nurse.

Pass-only grades are applied to the assessment of competencies for all professional experience practice placements.

Conceded passes are not accepted by the external accrediting body and thus will not be granted in accordance with Academic Courses Regulation 52.

Academic progress – special requirements

In addition to the standard academic progress rules, this course has the following additional academic progress rules which are established in accordance with Academic Courses Regulation 62(2):

1. A student is classified as 'at risk' of unsatisfactory progress if they:
   1. fail any unit of study
   2. behave in a manner which breaches the Swinburne Student Charter whilst on a professional placement
2. A student is classified as 'unsatisfactory progress' if they:
   1. fail any unit of study in the next Progress Review period after being classified as being 'at risk'
   2. fail a Professional Placement or Work Experience in Industry  unit
   3. have their professional placement terminated early by an industry partner. In the case of early termination of an industry placement by an industry partner, the student will be deemed as having 'unsatisfactory progress' and a progress review hearing may be convened within 2 weeks of the cessation of the placement

Students who are identified as having unsatisfactory progress will be subject to the show cause provisions in the Progress Review section of the Academic Progress Policy.

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted is one year - 100 credit points (normally eight units). All applications for RPL are considered on an individual basis as per the university policies and procedures.

Accreditation placements

Accredited placements are structured opportunities that allow students to gain practical experience in their chosen fields. These placements are part of academic programs and are recognised by educational institutions, enhancing the credibility of the experience. They provide a valuable bridge between theoretical knowledge and real-world application, allowing participants to develop essential skills, network with industry professionals, and enhance their employability. 

Students undertaking the Bachelor of Nursing accreditation placement are subject to fees requirements and must obtain the following:

• uniform
• police check
• working with children check (WWCC)
• NDIS screening check
• immunisation form
• COVID-19 vaccination 
• hand hygine certificate 
• N95 mask fit testing.

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record 

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.