Bachelor of Nursing

Therapeutic Use of Medicines introduces the concepts and terminologies required to study, understand and apply principles of pharmacology within a nursing context. Safe practice through medication management reduces the risk of patient harm, and the Registered Nurse plays a pivotal role in ensuring that policies, guidelines, legal compliance and monitoring of patient outcomes meet the National Quality Use of Medicines Policy.

Mechanisms of drug action, therapeutic uses, adverse effects, interactions and contraindications for the common drug groups are studied. Routes of drug administration, dose, genetic and interpatient variabilities will be covered to enable critical thinking and problem solving in preventing and clinically managing potential adverse drug reactions, interactions and toxicity to ensure safe practices. Students will learn about the safe storage, preparation, administration and documentation of medicines, exploring the role of the nurse and members of the multidisciplinary team. Students will also develop awareness of complementary medicine use and their implications for nursing practice. The NMBA Standard 3 for Capability for Practice requires the use of the clinical reasoning processes to ensure timely, and appropriate medication management to reduce likelihood of patient harm. Students need to become proficient in assessment, education, and evaluation of therapeutic medicines to undertake ongoing care plans.

This subject equips students to develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills related specifically to the management of persons who are acutely unwell. The role of the nurse in the management of acutely unwell patients will be explored, as well as the referral and escalation of concerns to members of the multidisciplinary team.

This subject will cover the physical and emotional impacts of illness, hospitalization and surgery on the patient and family, expanding upon communication skills in times of heightened stress and discomfort. Students will also learn how the acutely unwell person accesses healthcare.

Common disruptions to health will be discussed, to aid students in understanding the pathophysiology and identification of clinical manifestations, and the investigations needed to support diagnosis of diseases.

Students will develop and apply an understanding of the monitoring and treatment of disruptions to homeostasis and comfort. Principles and practices of wound care will be introduced, as will the needs of persons preoperatively and postoperatively.

There is a strong focus on the clinical reasoning processes, inclusive of ethics, law and evidence in decision-making involved in caring for the person who is acutely unwell.

Finally, this subject will include an essential two-week clinical placement.

This subject includes 80 hours of clinical placement.

This subject will enhance student’s foundation knowledge of health and culture from a local, national and global perspective. The subject provides an outline of the key features of the role of policy, politics, ideologies, resources and funding in the design, operation and access of health care systems.

This subject will provide students with an overview of the Australian healthcare system including the issues resulting from the federal/state division in healthcare. It will also explore the major global health issues and the potential impact on the Australian healthcare system. This includes emerging infectious diseases, disaster management, universal health coverage and human resources for health.

This subject also aligns with the course philosophy to be “Be Good” by assisting students to understand “thinking globally and acting locally” for social good.

This subject provides students with the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to provide comprehensive nursing care to children and families in their care, across various health care settings. The focus is on best practices in paediatric assessment which guide clinical reasoning and decision-making related to provision of nursing care to children and families in varied care settings. This includes health promotion and care of children and adolescents with common childhood medical conditions, complex health issues, chronic conditions, mental health issues, and perioperative care.

Concepts such as the developmental needs of children, rights of children, adolescents and their specific challenges, family centred care, legal and ethical responsibilities, complexities of medication management in children, and contemporary paediatric nursing issues are integral elements of this subject.

Understanding Mental Health is the first of two mental health units and focuses on the theoretical underpinnings of mental health and mental health care, including the functions of law in mental health care and mental health nursing.

This unit provides important foundation knowledge for the linked professional practice subject, Mental Health Care. Understanding Mental Health equips the student with knowledge regarding mental health conditions across the life span and clinical environments experienced by nurses in a range of settings.

Students will gain an understanding about theories of mental illness and explore contemporary social and cultural impacts on mental health in Australia, including issues of substance use and other co-morbidities. Students will learn to engage with and develop rapport to support persons in a therapeutic relationship, and navigate complex legal and ethical issues.

The biopsychosocial model of health will be introduced to explore relevant determinants of health and disease and that supports the integration of biological, psychological and social factors in the assessment, prevention and treatment of diseases.

Trauma informed care will be explored to understand the significant impact trauma can have on individuals, groups and communities and ensure nursing practice is trauma informed.

Recovery and partnering with consumers will be explored to develop nursing care which is recovery focused and is developed in partnership with consumer

This subject introduces the student to global health philosophies and values of primary healthcare as the framework for working with people in their homes, the community and communities as a whole. The key principles of primary healthcare are explored, including health for all, health equity and access, community engagement and participation, capacity-building and advocacy.

This subject includes health promotion, health literacy, the application of data and concepts of the social and environmental determinants of health to communities, and the development of a range of interventions to meet the needs of communities. This subject introduces models of behaviour-change and explores the role of the nurse in primary healthcare and in community nursing.

This subject includes two weeks essential clinical placement experience at an external organisation.

This subject includes 80 hours of clinical placement.

Nursing is a practice profession that integrates the theoretical knowledge and practice within a range of settings. For an undergraduate nursing student, the ability to link theory to practice is integral. This course relates to skills developed in the theory courses FPH201 First Peoples Culture, History and Healthcare, CCA206 Care of Children and Adolescents; PCC302 Palliative Care & Life Limiting Conditions and POA304 Positive Ageing.

This course enables students to integrate theoretical knowledge into practice whilst caring for individuals with acute and chronic illness. Students are able to apply the beginning clinical skills of a Registered Nurse in accordance with the NMBA standards across a range of clinical settings. In this subject, students are allocated to a clinical placement setting and undertake 160 hours of professional experience placement.

Therapeutic communication skills, collaborative education of individuals and families, assessment skills, critical thinking, medication administration, team collaboration, reflection, and the ability to prioritise care are all key areas of focus. The clinical practicum experience enables students to work within settings caring for individuals with acute and chronic conditions to apply their learning to professional nursing practice.

This subject includes 160 hours of clinical placement.

This subject equips students to provide care for those in palliative care or with life limiting conditions (LLC) (not limited to last days of life care). The student will develop an appreciation of dying with dignity and quality of life lived despite limitations.

Palliative care is an individual person-centered care approach which specifically caters for the person, families and carers pertaining to their specific requirements.

The focus is on communication skills, symptom assessment, nursing interventions, and collaborative engagement with the person, family and multidisciplinary teams across all healthcare settings.

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the transition from acute/chronic conditions to life limiting conditions. The subject explores current debates in the area. Students will be required to understand the Australian legal and ethical codes, subsequent implications of the current debates and implications for End of Life Care and decision making for the person, family, carers and health professionals.

This subject builds upon “Understanding Mental Health”. It is a practice-based subject that extends the knowledge and skills of students to provide care for people with mental health conditions, that is culturally and ethically responsible.

The subject provides opportunities for students to develop and practice acquired knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to the restoration and maintenance of optimal mental health and recovery from mental illness. Students build upon their understanding to further assess mental status as well as inherent risks and identify the coping abilities of individuals and families, and provide care for people with a variety of mental health conditions. This subject also includes mental health service systems, roles and functions of the multidisciplinary mental health team, and actioning of relevant Mental Health Acts in practice.

Early recognition of escalating symptoms and de-escalation techniques will be explored to equip students with the tools needed to prevent the need for restrictive interventions. Sensory modulation will be introduced as a means of de-escalation and partnering consumers. Cognitive behavioural therapy will be introduced as a widely used tool to assist consumers in solving their own problems. Trauma Informed Care will be revisited to support students to develop nursing care which is trauma informed.

Issues such as: strengths-based models, crisis assessment and minimising the requirement for restrictive interventions and pharmacological restraint will be examined using role play and simulation. The use of comprehensive mental status and risk assessments will be the foundation for critical thinking and clinical judgement, to provide holistic person-centred care.

This subject includes 80 hours of clinical placement.

This subject focuses on preparing students for the transition from advanced student nurse to beginning Registered Nurse. This subject is aligned to the completion of the NMBA (2016) Registered Nurse Standards of Practice and reinforces for senior students the expectations and accountabilities of a prospective Registered Nurse. Students will need to undertake self-audits to build on professional identity and competency.

Practice environment, quality, safety, risk management and leadership are key concepts, to augment previous knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program. Students will be required to complete a practice project that demonstrates their ability to apply critical thinking and sound clinical judgement in person centred care and metacognition skills as a future leader

This subject examines the impact of critical, complex or emergency care needs on the inpatient, their family and the implications for the community. The complexity of the provision of care by the multidisciplinary team in the promotion of recovery and preservation of quality of life is examined.

The nurse’s role within the multidisciplinary team and scope of practice in the delivery of life sustaining therapies is discussed. Recognition and management of the deteriorating patient within a complex care environment will be the main focus of this subject.

The process of and relationship between analysis and interpretation of comprehensive clinical data, clinical reasoning and the delivery of ethically sound, person-centred care is explored. Through the provision of theoretical and practical components the student will be equipped to contribute, as an advanced beginner nurse, to the provision of planned nursing care.

This subject includes 80 hours of clinical placement.

This subject introduces the student to the rural and isolated practice contexts, where resources may be limited and the health care team is minimal. Such contexts require the nurse to provide not only acute or chronic care, but also a primary healthcare focus.

The subject will explore first line intervention from the perspective of stabilisation and transfer, health management protocols, a comprehensive scope of practice, the psychosocial factors of living and working in isolated contexts, and population needs such as opportunistic vaccination, and providing holistic care through technology and liaison with the remote interprofessional team. It includes an integration of theory and practice to refine critical thinking and innovation as a nurse in an unpredictable environment. It equips students with decision-making, prioritising and communication skills and confidence required in isolated situations and enables them to apply their knowledge of acute nursing principles by transferring the skills they have learnt to date to situations without the usual equipment or other health care professionals.

This subject aligns with nursing practice subjects and includes two-week essential professional practice experience.

This subject includes 80 hours clinical placement.

This subject supports the student to consolidate the theory and practice throughout the program.

The student will be assessed against the NMBA (2016) Registered Nurse Standards of Practice: reviewing skills and knowledge from the course and integrating practice with other health professionals to optimise person-centred health outcomes in a context of inter-professional collaboration and interdisciplinary care. The student's clinical experience will facilitate socialisation to the clinical practice of nursing as a graduate, enhancing skills such as therapeutic communication, time management, critical thinking, problem solving and decision making, prioritising and reflection.

This subject includes 160 hours of clinical placement.