The course provides a blend of nursing, applied science and behavioural and social science subjects with the opportunity to choose electives in more diverse fields.

The course is designed for registered nurses from hospital-based certificate level courses who are planning to further their careers in nursing and enhance professional practice. The course is a generic program relevant to all areas of nursing practice and prepares nurses for study at postgraduate level in an area of specialisation.

Hospital trained Registered Nurses now receive a credit package of 128 points (16 subjects). Students who commenced prior to 1995 should consult their Course Coordinator if they are unsure of their new Graduation requirements.

Bathurst Campus
Wagga Wagga Campus

Distance education

Part-time 2 years (4 sessions)

Students must hold current registration as a nurse from any Australian state.

Upon admission, students are awarded a credit package of 16 subjects (128 points).

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 192 points, comprising the credit package of 128 points awarded upon admission and 64 points during enrolment in the course.

The course consists of three sections comprising:

• Nursing Practice major sequence: two subjects
• Nursing Practice minor sequence: a minimum of four subjects
• Core Supporting Studies: elective/two subjects maximum.

Students must undertake eight subjects. Two of the eight subjects may be taken from other Faculties.

Two compulsory nursing subjects:

NRS132 Nursing & Communities

NRS345 Introduction to Nursing Research

Note: Students who have previously completed university study are not required to complete NRS132 and should consult the Course Coordinator.

A minimum of four subjects (at least 2 at level 3 or above) from:

NRS101 Physical Health Nursing 2

NRS115 Care of Infants

NRS218 Health & Care of Children 0-8

NRS235 Pain Management

NRS236 Health Care in a Multicultural Society

NRS237 Management & the Nurse

NRS238 Gerontology & Care of the Aged

NRS325 Child Health Care & Promotion

NRS243 Context of Nursing Practice 2B

NRS333 Team Development in Nursing

NRS334 Team Development Project

NRS337 Life Threatening Illness

NRS245 Context of Nursing Practice 2D

NRS343 Care of the Psychgeriatric Client

NRS348/349 Nursing Project (16 points)

NRS401 Ecology of Child Health Care

NRS402 Child Health Care - Contemporary Issues

NRS442 Midwifery Studies 2 (only for certified midwives, exempt from residential school)

NRS451 Issues in Midwifery (only for certified midwives)

A maximum of two core supporting subjects may be chosen from any of the following:

LAW131 Legal & Ethical Issues in Health

PSY111 Foundations of Psychology 1S

PSY214 Health Psychology

SOC101 Introductory Sociology

SOC108 Sociology of Health & Health Care

BMS115 Introductory Medical Microbiology

BMS127 Human Anatomy and Physiology 1

BMS128 Human Anatomy and Physiology 2

BMS203 Pathophysiology 1

BMS303 Pathophysiology 2

BMS314 Advanced Medical Microbiology

BMS315 Systematic Medical Microbiology

BMS319 Behavioural Neuroscience

HSM161 Health Services Organisations

HSM244 Health Services Resources Management

HSM202 Managing Health Services

HSM288 Human Resources Management in Health Service Organisations

HLT200 Health Informatics

Students are advised to discuss their course progression with the Course Adviser when planning their studies.

Progression will depend on previous qualifications, experience and individual career goals. Consultation with the Course Adviser when planning will minimise the possibility of problems relating to subject availability, prerequisites and quotas.

Academic advisory schools may be held on campus each session, depending upon the subject selected. Students will be advised of precise school dates in the preceding session. An optional introductory academic advisory school is held for new students who have not previously undertaken tertiary study. This school will be offered once in Bathurst and once in Wagga Wagga during February each year, prior to commencement of the academic year, and will last 2-3 days. Students are advised to check whether their core supporting study electives have compulsory academic advisory schools. For mid year intake students, an introductory academic advisory school is held in July or September.

Students may undertake one of the following specialisations:

Mental Health Nursing

Gerontic Nursing

Child Health Nursing

Nursing Bioscience

Midwifery

Students who elect to study a specialisation will be required to conform to a structured course progression comprising the following:

NRS132 Nursing & Communities

NRS345 Introduction to Nursing Research

and six subjects as specified in each specialisation, as follows:

NRS132 Nursing & Communities

NRS345 Introduction to Nursing Research [mental health nursing focus]

NRS243 Context of Nursing Practice 2B

NRS245 Context of Nursing Practice 2D

NRS343 Care of the Psychogeriatric Client

NRS370 Community Mental Health Nursing

BMS319 Behavioural Neuroscience

NRS348/9 Nursing Project (16 point subject) [mental health nursing focus]

Nursing Practice Minor subjects

Core supporting subjects

NRS132 Nursing & Communities

NRS345 Introduction to Nursing Research [gerontic nursing focus]

NRS238 Gerontology & Care of the Aged

NRS343 Care of the Psychogeriatric Client

NRS337 Life Threatening Illness 3

NRS371 Rehabilitation Nursing

BMS319 Behavioural Neuroscience

NRS348/9 Nursing Project (16 point subject) [gerontic nursing focus]

Nursing Practice Minor subjects

Core supporting subjects

NRS132 Nursing & Communities

NRS345 Introduction to Nursing Research [child health nursing focus]

NRS115 Care of Infants

NRS218 Health & Care of Children 0 - 8 years

NRS325 Child Health Care & Promotion

NRS401 Ecology of Child Health Care

]NRS402 Child Health Care - Contemporary Issues

NRS348/9 Nursing Project (16 point subject) [child health nursing focus]

Nursing Practice Minor subjects

Core supporting subjects

NRS132 Nursing & Communities

NRS345 Introduction to Nursing Research [nursing bioscience focus]

SCI101 Physical Science for Nurses

BMS319 Behavioural Neuroscience
and either

BMS203 Pathophysiology 1
and

BMS303 Pathophysiology 2.
or

BMS127 Human Anatomy and Physiology 1
and

BMS128 Human Anatomy and Physiology 2

NRS348/9 Nursing Project (16 point subject) [nursing bioscience focus]

Nursing Practice Minor subjects

Core supporting subjects

This specialisation is designed for midwives and consists of:

NRS132 Nursing & Communities

NRS345 Introduction to Nursing Research [midwifery focus]

NRS115 Care of Infants

NRS401 The Ecology of Child Health Care

NRS441 Midwifery Studies 1

NRS442 Midwifery Studies 2 (must be certified midwife and exempt from residential school)

NRS451 Issues in Midwifery

NRS348/9 Nursing Project (16 point subject) [midwifery focus]

Nursing Practice Minor subjects

Core supporting subjects

Course Coordinator
Karen Francis
School of Clinical Sciences
Telephone: (02) 6933 2972
Facsimile: (02) 6933 2866
Email: kfrancis@csu.edu.au

Course Coordinator
Jan Allan
School of Nursing and Health Science
Telephone: (02) 6338 4641
Facsimile: (02) 6338 4408
Email: jallan@csu.edu.au

Bachelor of Health Science
(Mental Health Nursing)
Jan Allan
School of Nursing and Health Science
Telephone: (02) 6338 4641
Facsimile: (02) 6338 4408
Email: jallan@csu.edu.au

Bachelor of Health Science
(Gerontic Nursing)
Jenni Brackenreg
School of Nursing and Health Science
Telephone: (02) 6338 4480
Facsimile: (02) 6338 4408
Email: jbrackenreg@csu.edu.au

Bachelor of Health Science
(Child Health Nursing)
Karen Francis
School of Clinical Sciences
Telephone: (02) 6933 2972
Facsimile: (02) 6933 2866
Email: kfrancis@csu.edu.au

Bachelor of Health Science
(Nursing Bioscience)
Julie Tall
School of Nursing and Health Science
Telephone: (02) 6338 4395
Facsimile: (02) 6338 4408
Email: jtall@csu.edu.au

Bachelor of Health Science (Midwifery)
Karen Francis
School of Clinical Sciences
Telephone: (02) 6933 2972
Facsimile: (02) 6933 2866
Email: kfrancis@csu.edu.au