Bachelor of Nursing

Description

The School of Nursing, Sydney offers a dynamic nursing program which is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. The three-year Bachelor of Nursing offers a formal curriculum that places a strong emphasis on the practice environment. Notre Dame students develop a broad theoretical base to complement the comprehensive clinical component. The Notre Dame School of Nursing has formed clinical partnerships with four of Sydney’s largest teaching health care services; St Vincent’s and Mater Health, Sydney South West Area Health Service, South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service and Sydney West Area Health Service.

The clinical model developed at Notre Dame relies on a partnership between the University and the health care service providing the clinical practicum. Students spend 33 clinical weeks throughout the 3 year program with one these clinical partners and become part of the health care team.

Students undertake a comprehensive theoretical program, including specialist nursing studies, behavioural and health science, professional development and the compulsory Core Curriculum units in Philosophy, Ethics and Theology. The comprehensive clinical component provides students with experience in a variety of hospital, community and health care settings, where they are mentored by experienced registered nurses. At the completion of their studies, graduates of this course will be capable of providing high quality care in a compassionate, respectful and just manner.


The course has four broad study streams:
• Behavioural Science
• Health Science
• Nursing Care: Theory & Practice
• Personal & Professional Development

The course uses a problem solving and evidence based practice approach in teaching. Theoretical and practice components are integrated and undertaken in a coordinated manner.

Requirements

The School of Nursing encourages applications from all ages. The comprehensive entry requirements consider your academic performance as well as your personal accomplishments and your suitability to nursing. Prospective students must be able to demonstrate good verbal and written skills.

International Students, Permanent Residents and new Australian Citizens whose first language is not English and/or who have not completed Year 12 in Australia will need to sit the Academic IELTS exam. According to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, applicants must achieve an overall score of at least 7.0 and at least 7.0 on each band of Speaking, Reading, Listening and Writing.

Students who have not demonstrated Band 4 in Standard English at the HSC level will need to demonstrate the same IELTS results to satisfy the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia registration requirements. IELTS results will need to be verified by the Admissions Office before an offer of a place into the Bachelor of Nursing can be made.
The Admissions Office reserves the right to ask for IELTS results from any applicant as deemed necessary. For further information regarding the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, please visit www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au For further information regarding IELTS, please visit www.ielts.org Please be aware that IELTS tests book out very quickly and it is advised to visit the IELTS website as soon as possible to research and book a test date.

Students are also expected to have completed a Senior First Aid course before commencing their nursing studies.

Notes

Mode of study & assessment
The majority of students admitted to the Bachelor of Nursing complete the course on a full time basis. Part time study may be allowed under certain circumstances. Students are assessed using a variety of methods consisting of a number of assignments or projects during the semester, tests and a final examination. All students are expected to have completed and mastered the relevant ANMC competencies established for each semester before undertaking the corresponding clinical placement.

Successful study
At Notre Dame we emphasise the value of the human person and the importance of maintaining an ethical way of life. All students undertake the Core Curriculum units Philosophy, Ethics and Theology–dealing with issues that go to the very heart of participation in public life while developing students with valuable life skills.
Exchange opportunities
The School of Nursing, Sydney has links with regional and remote clinical settings within NSW and you may have the opportunity of completing part of your clinical practicum in one of these settings.

Honours
High achieving students may be invited to participate in the Honours program in the 4th year of study. The Honours program includes coursework and an independent research study with mentoring by an experienced researcher.