This program applies to students who commenced in 2022 or later. 

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

For Commencement Year 2020, please refer to: 4780.1 Bachelor of Nursing - WSU Online

This program prepares graduates for eligibility to apply for registration throughout Australia as a registered nurse. The focus of the program is on inquiry-based learning, critical thinking and reflective practice in relation to the theory and practice of nursing in health and health breakdown across the lifespan. Using a primary health care framework, students study the application of physical and behavioural sciences to nursing; inquiry and evidence-based practice principles and utilisation within nursing; nursing care of individuals, families and groups from diverse backgrounds across the lifespan. The acquisition of nursing knowledge and skills occurs initially in campus-based simulated clinical practice settings and consolidation occurs as students undertake clinical placements in a variety of health care settings. Prospective students should be aware that full disclosure of any issues of impairment or misconduct is a declaration requirement when applying for registration as a registered nurse.

An English language skills registration standard is also applicable to all students applying for registration;

http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au

Our Bachelor of Nursing program’s guiding principle is safety of the public and to prepare graduates for safe and ethical nursing practice. Our program reflects contemporary practices in nursing, health and education, and responds to emerging trends based on research, technology and other forms of evidence which includes principles of intraprofessional and interprofessional learning and practice, principles of diversity, culture, inclusion and cultural safety for all people and student knowledge and skills in pharmacotherapeutics and quality use of medicines.

Early Exit

All students will enrol in the 4780 Bachelor of Nursing - WSU Online. There are two exit points. The Associate Degree in Health Support on completion of 160 credit points and the Diploma in Health Support on completion of 80 credit points selected from 4780 Bachelor of Nursing - WSU Online subjects as indicated in the program structure. Both exit points will not qualify the recipient to apply for registration as a nurse in Australia.

Registration

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) has a register of students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing for the duration of their study. Western Sydney University as the education provider will provide your details directly to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) for registration.

Registration as a nurse

On successful completion of an accredited program, you will be eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) General with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Prospective students should be aware that full disclosure of any issues of impairment or misconduct is a declaration requirement when applying for registration as a registered nurse. To be accepted for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, you are required to disclose: any criminal history, physical and/or psychological impairments and meet specific English language standards. For further clarification of these requirements contact the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au

Professional Standards and Conduct

Please ensure that you are familiar with the policies available on the Western Sydney University website. In addition, nurses and midwives must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), and meet the NMBA's professional standards in order to practice in Australia.

Registration standards define the requirements that applicants, registrants or students need to meet to be registered.

To ensure patient safety, nurses and midwives are deemed mandatory reporters and under National Law are subject to making notification about notifiable conduct.

It is important to be aware that complaints or concerns can be raised about the health, conduct or performance of a registered health practitioner or student at any time. Please contact the Program Advisor listed below for information.

Study Mode

Four years full-time

Program Advice

Lauren Metcalfe

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Location

Campus	Attendance	Mode	Advice
WSU Online*	Full Time	Online	WSU Online Advice

*

Programs delivered through an agreement with another party

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Nursing has accreditation from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and approval from the Nursing and Midwifery Board Australia (NMBA). On successful completion of the course, students will be eligible for registration as a nurse (Division 1) with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Please note: from 1 July 2020 International applicants are to provide evidence of meeting the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, English language skills registration standard prior to enrolling in the program For further details, refer to the NMBA website: http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards.aspx

Inherent Requirements

There are inherent requirements for this program that you must meet in order to complete your program and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this program online.

Inherent Requirements

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline.  This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this program.  Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.

Admission

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas apply for admission to this program directly through the WSU Online portal.

Eligibility for admission to the Bachelor of Nursing is based upon a completed Australian Year 12 qualification or equivalent.

All applicants will be required to meet English Language Proficiency requirements. Local applicants applying directly to the University can find further information on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

International students are not eligible for enrolment into the Bachelor of Nursing offered through WSU Online.

Completion Requirements

There is a requirement for this program to be completed in a ten-year timeframe.  Returning students who have previously studied at WSU must seek advice from the Director of Academic Program regarding subject selection.

SoNM_DAP_BN

English Language Proficiency Requirements

All applicants for the Bachelor of Nursing WSU Online are required to provide evidence of demonstrating 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 solely in English in a recognised country, including at least two years between years 7 and 12. Recognised country means one of the following countries: Australia; Canada; New Zealand; Republic of Ireland; South Africa; United Kingdom; United States of America, or
• You currently hold registration as an Enrolled Nurse (Division 2), or Registered Nurse (Division 1) or Registered Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), or
• If you do not satisfy either of the above, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test (see below).

English Proficiency Assessment

English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study.

1. IELTS (academic module). We only accept test results from one test sitting, or a maximum of two test sittings in a six-month period only if:

• you achieve a minimum overall score of 7 in each sitting, and
• you achieve a minimum score of 7 in each component across the two sittings, and
• no score in any component of the test is below 6.5.

2. OET. We will only accept test results from one test sitting, or a maximum of two test sittings in a six-month period only if:

• you are tested in all four components in each sitting, and
• you achieve a minimum score of B in each component across the two sittings, and
• no score in any component of the test is below C.

3. PTE Academic. We will only accept test results from one test sitting, or a maximum of two test sittings in a six-month period only if:

• a minimum overall score of 65 is achieved in each sitting, and
• you achieve a minimum score of 65 in each of the communicative skills across the two sittings, and
• no score in any of the communicative skills is below 58.

4. TOEFL iBt. We will only accept test results from one test sitting, or a maximum of two test sittings in a six-month period only if:

• a minimum total score of 94 is achieved in each sitting, and
• you achieve a minimum score of 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking across the two sittings, and
• no score in any of the sections is below 20 for listening, 19 for reading, 24 for writing and 20 for speaking

Note: Students who were not born in any of the above recognised countries need to be aware of the English language requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia that need to be demonstrated prior to registration. Please contact the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for information on this requirement.

http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/

Special Requirements

To enrol in the Bachelor of Nursing - WSU Online, students must meet Western Sydney University program requirements. To attend a health-related placement in this progam, Special Legislative Requirements will be assessed from enrolment.

1. National Criminal History Check: students must have a current check valid for their entire progam. A valid National Criminal history check must be an Australia wide check, include the student's full name matching their Student ID card and date of birth and not have any offences listed. If a student has a criminal history identified on their check, they must provide a clearance or authority document or conditional letter from their relevant authorised state organisation.
   
   International students must additionally have a translated International Police Check or statutory declaration.
2. A Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance letter or state equivalent, valid for their entire course.
3. A current approved first aid certificate valid for their entire course, approved provider courses can be found at http://training.gov.au.
4. A completed vaccination/immunisation card with all serology results attached - currency must be maintained by the student to ensure compliance for their entire course.
5. Undertaking/Declaration form (or state equivalent documents)
6. Additional forms as required per state related to, but not limited to, Tuberculosis Assessment tool, Hepatitis B statutory declaration form, Signed Code of Conduct, Student Deed Poll and all other state equivalent documents as required.

Contact your school for further details, resources are also available on the Placement Hub web page.

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/placements_hub

Special Requirements Prerequisites

In clinical placement subjects, students must wear the Western Sydney University nursing and midwifery uniform. This uniform will be purchased at the student’s expense.

Recommended Sequence Current

If you commenced prior to Trimester 3 2023 please refer to the Sequence 2022 - Trimester 2 2023 tab for details.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Western Sydney University Online

The Bachelor of Nursing offered through Western Sydney University Online will conduct compulsory on-campus residential intensives for each Professional Practice Experience subject.

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1		Credit Points
Year 1 subjects
First Trimester of study
NURS 1017	Primary Health Care in Action	10
NURS 1023	Bioscience 1	10
Second Trimester of study
NURS 1020	Professional Practice Experience 1	10
NURS 1022	Becoming a Professional Nurse	10
Third Trimester of study
NURS 1025	Person-centred Care Across the Lifespan	10
NURS 1001	Approaches to Professional Nursing Practice	10
Year 2 subjects
Fourth Trimester of study
NURS 1024	Bioscience 2	10
NURS 1021	Professional Practice Experience 2	10
Fifth Trimester of study
NURS 2036	Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing and Midwifery	10
NURS 2040	Pharmacology in Nursing	10
Sixth Trimester of study
NURS 2037	Health Variations 1 - Introduction to Alterations in Health	10
NURS 2028	Professional Practice Experience 3	10
Year 3 subjects
Seventh Trimester of study
NURS 2041	Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing	10
NURS 2038	Health Variations 2 - Chronic Conditions and Disability	10
Eighth Trimester of study
NURS 2016	Health Variations 3 - Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Conditions	10
NURS 2029	Professional Practice Experience 4	10
Ninth Trimester of study
NURS 3041	Indigenous Australian Health, Wellness and Culture	10
NURS 3017	Health Variations 5 - Palliative and End of Life Care	10
Year 4 subjects
Tenth Trimester of study
NURS 3015	Health Variations 4 - Acute Life Threatening Conditions	10
NURS 3032	Professional Practice Experience 5	10
Eleventh Trimester of study
NURS 3002	Being a Professional Nurse or Midwife	10
Select one of the following alternate subjects (availability subject to student numbers):		10
NURS 7029	Mental Health Assessment and Application
NURS 7059	Ageing in Place: Wellbeing and Sustainability
NURS 3045	Cultural Immersion Experience (UG)
Twelth Trimester of study
NURS 3039	Professional Experience Placement	20
	Credit Points	240
	Total Credit Points	240

Equivalent subjects

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2021 or earlier.

NURS 2013 Health Variations 2 - Chronic Illness and Disability, replaced by NURS 2038 Health Variations 2 - Chronic Conditions and Disability

NURS 2031 Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 1, replaced by NURS 2041 Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing

 Professional Practice Experience

The Bachelor of Nursing - WSU Online will conduct compulsory on-campus residential intensives for each Professional Practice Experience subject.

The Professional Practice Experience is the foundation for student learning in the course. It consists of two major learning contexts for students: professional practice and simulation. Professional practice in the health care sector may take place in any level of the health service appropriate to the focus for the specific Professional Practice Experience unit, for example aged care facilities, hospitals, General Practitioner practices, community health teams. This environment is essential for providing students complexity of the nursing experience, the ability to apply learning in situations involving ill persons, and socialises students into the work domain.

Simulation is a teaching and learning strategy where aspects of the professional practice environment, such as a hospital ward or patient, are artificially created on campus to enable students to learn in a safe, non-threatening environment. Clinical Practice Subjects, simulated professional practice environments, will be used to allow students to undertake learning activities related to all core nursing skills such as administering medications and monitoring a patient’s condition. The School has a wide range of simulation equipment and dedicated high fidelity simulation rooms on each campus.

The percentage of time spent by students in each context will vary depending on the stage of the student in the program, the theoretical knowledge already acquired and the stage of competency development. For example at the beginning of the program more hours will be spent in the simulation context than in the health care sector. As the program progresses there is a scaling up of hours spent in the health care sector with fewer hours being spent in the simulation context. In the final session of third year a significant proportion of knowledge and skills consolidation will occur primarily in a clinical practice environment.

If your last professional experience placement was more than 12 months ago, you are required to complete subject NURS3044 Professional Experience Placement (PEP) Currency to be eligible to apply for registration as a Nurse (Division1) in Australia.

Recommended Sequence 2022 - Trimester 2 2023

If you commenced in Trimester 3 2023 or later please refer to the Sequence Current tabs for details.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Western Sydney University Online

The Bachelor of Nursing offered through Western Sydney University Online will conduct compulsory on-campus residential intensives for each Professional Practice Experience subject.

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1		Credit Points
Year 1 subjects
First Trimester of study
NURS 1023	Bioscience 1	10
NURS 1017	Primary Health Care in Action	10
Second Trimester of study
NURS 1022	Becoming a Professional Nurse	10
NURS 1020	Professional Practice Experience 1	10
Third Trimester of study
NURS 1025	Person-centred Care Across the Lifespan	10
NURS 1001	Approaches to Professional Nursing Practice	10
Year 2 subjects
Fourth Trimester of study
NURS 1024	Bioscience 2	10
NURS 1021	Professional Practice Experience 2	10
Fifth Trimester of study
NURS 2036	Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing and Midwifery	10
NURS 2040	Pharmacology in Nursing	10
Sixth Trimester of study
NURS 2037	Health Variations 1 - Introduction to Alterations in Health	10
NURS 2028	Professional Practice Experience 3	10
Year 3 subjects
Seventh Trimester of study
NURS 2041	Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing	10
NURS 2038	Health Variations 2 - Chronic Conditions and Disability	10
Eighth Trimester of study
NURS 2016	Health Variations 3 - Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Conditions	10
NURS 2029	Professional Practice Experience 4	10
Ninth Trimester of study
NURS 3041	Indigenous Australian Health, Wellness and Culture	10
NURS 3017	Health Variations 5 - Palliative and End of Life Care	10
Year 4 subjects
Tenth Trimester of study
NURS 3015	Health Variations 4 - Acute Life Threatening Conditions	10
NURS 3032	Professional Practice Experience 5	10
Eleventh Trimester of study
NURS 3002	Being a Professional Nurse or Midwife	10
Select one of the following subjects (available prior to Trimester 3, 2023):		10
NURS 7028	Leadership in Clinical Practice
NURS 7029	Mental Health Assessment and Application
NURS 7059	Ageing in Place: Wellbeing and Sustainability
From Trimester 3, 2023 select one of the following:
NURS 7029	Mental Health Assessment and Application
NURS 7059	Ageing in Place: Wellbeing and Sustainability
Twelth Trimester of study
NURS 3039	Professional Experience Placement	20
	Credit Points	240
	Total Credit Points	240

Equivalent subjects

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2021 or earlier.

NURS 2013 Health Variations 2 - Chronic Illness and Disability, replaced by NURS 2038 Health Variations 2 - Chronic Conditions and Disability

NURS 2031 Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 1, replaced by NURS 2041 Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing

Replaced Subjects

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in Autumn 2023 or earlier.

NURS 7028 Leadership in Clinical Practice

Professional Practice Experience

The Bachelor of Nursing - WSU Online will conduct compulsory on-campus residential intensives for each Professional Practice Experience subject.

The Professional Practice Experience is the foundation for student learning in the course. It consists of two major learning contexts for students: professional practice and simulation. Professional practice in the health care sector may take place in any level of the health service appropriate to the focus for the specific Professional Practice Experience unit, for example aged care facilities, hospitals, General Practitioner practices, community health teams. This environment is essential for providing students complexity of the nursing experience, the ability to apply learning in situations involving ill persons, and socialises students into the work domain.

Simulation is a teaching and learning strategy where aspects of the professional practice environment, such as a hospital ward or patient, are artificially created on campus to enable students to learn in a safe, non-threatening environment. Clinical Practice Subjects, simulated professional practice environments, will be used to allow students to undertake learning activities related to all core nursing skills such as administering medications and monitoring a patient’s condition. The School has a wide range of simulation equipment and dedicated high fidelity simulation rooms on each campus.

The percentage of time spent by students in each context will vary depending on the stage of the student in the program, the theoretical knowledge already acquired and the stage of competency development. For example at the beginning of the program more hours will be spent in the simulation context than in the health care sector. As the program progresses there is a scaling up of hours spent in the health care sector with fewer hours being spent in the simulation context. In the final session of third year a significant proportion of knowledge and skills consolidation will occur primarily in a clinical practice environment.