BNurs

Students enrolled prior to 2003 should consult the Course Coordinator regarding their program.

Charles Sturt University offers the Bachelor of Nursing as a full-time on campus course. Since mid-1997 the Bachelor of Nursing has also been offered, by the School of Nursing and Health Science, via distance education through the Bathurst Campus. The first year of this distance education course is offered only to nurses who currently hold an Enrolled Nurse Certificate IV or equivalent). Applicants who have completed the equivalent of the first eight on campus subjects in the Bachelor of Nursing for non-ENs are eligible to enter Session 3 or later stages of the course with credit for subjects already completed. The remainder of the course may be completed full-time depending upon subject availability.

Successful completion of this course enables graduates to apply for registration by the Registration Board of NSW in the first instance. Graduates may also apply to the Registration Board of each state of Australia for registration as Registered Nurses (RNs) (List A). If the application for registration has been accepted, graduates will be eligible to work as RNs in any health care setting where RNs are employed. This includes community health, mental health, medical and surgical areas, health care clinics, aged care and industry.

Enrolment through

Bathurst Campus

Study mode

Distance education

Normal course duration

Part-time 4 years (plus one subject in a Summer Session or additional session)

Admission criteria

To be eligible for admission to Session 1 and 2 in the distance education mode, applicants should hold an Enrolled Nurse Certificate IV from TAFE or equivalent and must be currently enrolled with the NSW Nurses Registration Board. All other applicants without the Certificate IV will be considered in conjunction with relevant post-enrolment experience and/or completion of post-enrolment courses. Applicants who have completed the equivalent of Session 1 and 2 in the full-time mode at CSU, or are eligible for credit, are eligible to apply for admission, to enrol in Session 3 or later stages of the course.

Credit

Upon admission, credit is awarded to ENs for the equivalent of five subjects (40 points). Additional credit can also be awarded for other study successfully completed at the tertiary level. Armed Services personnel are eligible for varying amounts of substantial extra credit depending on level of program, and should document their certified medical assistant training level and proof of enrolment as an EN in NSW upon application to the course. A substantial credit package is available to graduates of CSU’s Bachelor of Health Science (Pre-Hospital Care) degree course.

No advice on credit can be given until a documented application is made via the Admissions Office, and credit determinations will be advised at the time of an offer being made.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Nursing course is a nationally accredited and registered award in tertiary education. It is accredited by the NSW Nurses Registration Board, and in 2002 the course was re-accredited until 2009. Graduates are eligible to apply for registration by the Board as Registered Nurses (RN) (List A). Once registered, nurses can apply for registration from the respective Nurses Registering Authorities in any state of Australia and overseas.

Graduation requirements

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 192 points (comprising the 40 point credit package awarded upon admission and 152 points (15 subjects) completed during enrolment in the course), meet prescribed clinical experience requirements and attend residential schools.

First Aid Certificates

All students are required to have a First Aid Certificate from an accredited body (Workcover approved) by the end of Session 3.

Criminal record checks

Students should be aware that the NSW Health Department has initiated a policy that all staff, including students undertaking clinical placements, in positions dealing with children and patients vulnerable by reason of health status, must undergo a criminal record check and clearance, prior to employment or placement in any capacity in the NSW Health System. This check will be conducted by the NSW Police and will be coordinated by the Department of Health.

Course structure

The course has three strands - nursing theory and practice; applied science; and behavioural and social science. In the distance education mode students study theoretical subjects through specially developed teaching packages whilst clinical subjects are studied both by study packages and associated residential schools and clinical block placements.

Clinical experience

Over the duration of the course students will be required to undertake 20 weeks of clinical experience in an allocated health care facility. While on this clinical placement, students will work as part of the health care or nursing team and deliver nursing care under the supervision and guidance of their clinical teacher. Clinical teachers, who are experienced nurses familiar with the Bachelor of Nursing course at CSU, will supervise and guide students during all hospital and community placements.

Residential schools

NRS116     Concepts & Issues in Nursing (four-day residential school) #

BMS101    Biophysical Science for Nurses 1 (two-day residential school)

BMS102    Biophysical Science for Nurses 2 (two-day residential school)

BMS231    Biomedical Science for Nurses 1 (two-day residential school)

BMS232    Biomedical Science for Nurses 2 (two-day residential school)

IKC100      Indigenous Histories & Cultures (three-day residential school)

NRS240     Acute Nursing Practice 1 (16 points) (four-day residential school) #

NRS243     Mental Health Nursing Practice 1 (two-day residential school) #

NRS250     Acute Nursing Practice 2 (16 points) (four-day residential school) #

NRS361     Disability & Chronic Illness Nursing Practice (two-day residential school) #

NRS363     Gerontology & Gerontic Nursing Practice (two-day residential school) #

NRS365     Reflective Professional Nursing Practice (16 points) (five-day residential school) #

 

# No exemptions may be granted for clinical residential schools under any circumstances as they are part of clinical hours approved by the NSW NRB. Other subjects’ residential schools are compulsory but application for exemption can be applied for in extenuating circumstances. All clinical placements are compulsory unless otherwise indicated.

Subjects without residential schools

NRS346     Mental Health Nursing Practice 2

NRS364     Professional Nursing 3

NRS372     Maternal Child & Family Nursing Practice

 

Enrolment pattern

Session 1

BMS101    Biophysical Science for Nurses 1

NRS116     Concepts and Issues in Nursing

 

Session 2

BMS102    Biophysical Science for Nurses 2

IKC100      Indigenous Histories and Cultures

 

Session 3

BMS231    Biomedical Science for Nurses 1

NRS240     Acute Nursing Practice 1 (16 points)

 

Session 4

BMS232    Biomedical Science for Nurses 2

NRS243     Mental Health Nursing Practice 1

 

Session 5

NRS250     Acute Nursing Practice 2 (16 points)

NRS346     Mental Health Nursing Practice 2

 

Session 6

NRS361     Disability and Chronic Illness Nursing Practice

NRS363     Gerontology and Gerontic Nursing Practice

 

Session 7

NRS364     Introduction to Health Research

NRS372     Maternal Child and Family Nursing Practice (16 points)

 

Session 8

NRS365     Reflective Professional Nursing Practice (16 points)

 

Summer session (December to February)

NRS364     Introduction to Health Research

 

Note: this subject is offered every Summer as an associate student subject and can be done at any time in the course. Also offered in Autumn and Spring sessions as a HECS-funded subject.

 

Inquiries

Course Coordinator

Heather Latham
School of Nursing and Health Science
Telephone: (02) 6338 4499
Facsimile: (02) 6338 4408
Email: hlatham@csu.edu.au

For enrolment and administrative inquiries:

School Liaison Officer
Telephone: (02) 6338 4363