Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2010

Single Degrees

Bachelor of Nursing (pre-registration) – Albury-Wodonga (HBNPRW), Bendigo (RBN), Melbourne (Bundoora) (HBN), Mildura (HBNM), Shepparton (HBNUP)

Tel: (03) 9479 5950

Email: nurrec@latrobe.edu.au

Duration: 3 years full-time

The Bachelor of Nursing (pre-registration) is a three-year, full time 360 credit point pass degree leading to registration as a Division 1 Nurse with the Nurses Board of Victoria. This comprehensive course prepares graduates to assume beginning level registered Division 1 Nurse responsibilities across the wide spectrum of contexts in which nursing is practised. It is offered across the Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Melbourne (Bundoora), Mildura and Shepparton campuses. Students are required to undertake a course of studies equivalent to that listed below. All students are required to obtain an annual Police Check as part of the course requirements. For continuing students only, some subject codes differ depending upon the campus of offer. Note that the teaching period in which a subject is offered may change.

An honours year of 120 credit points is also available for candidates who meet the entrance requirements.

The course aims to foster intellectual development, critical thinking and continuing personal development. Students will gain a commitment to research and evidence based practice and will be prepared practitioners to make ethical practice decisions which ensure quality outcomes. Graduates will be accountable, reflective nurses committed to responding to societal needs by participating in social change, health promotion and disease prevention. Graduate nurses will be, by virtue of their increased clinical learning opportunities and enhanced research preparation able to practice in a broader range of settings with more confidence and a greater ability to manage time and organise their work. Planned clinical experience in a variety of contexts of care will be provided in each year of the course. All clinical experience is used for observation, development, reflection on and integration of knowledge and skills. The on-campus Clinical Learning Unit (skills laboratory) enables students to practise and develop clinical nursing skills in a simulated and supportive environment. For enrolled students, the clinical learning component occurs in hospitals and health care agencies within regional and metropolitan areas (depending on your campus of enrolment).

This course is offered on a full-time basis. Part-time study is not recommended, but may be considered at the discretion of the Undergraduate Course Coordinator. An additional year of study is available at honours level for students who have achieved a Weighted Average Mark of 75%, or greater, across their final year of study.

Professional recognition

Graduates are eligible for registration as a Division 1 Nurse with the Nurses Board of Victoria. After registration, graduates are eligible for registration in other states and countries as well as membership of the Royal College of Nursing Australia.

Course structure (3-year program) (HBN)

Students will be required to produce evidence of completion of a First Aid Certificate prior to the commencement of semester 2 of their first year of study.

From 2009, commencing students at all campuses will complete the following course structure (please note that some subject titles and codes may change):

First year
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 HBS1HBA Human Biosciences A 15
TE-SEM-1 HLT1IPA Interprofessional Practice A 15
TE-SEM-1 HLT1PHW Perspectives on Health and Wellbeing 15
TE-SEM-1 PHE1IDH Individual Determinants of Health 15
TE-SEM-2 HBS1HBB Human Biosciences B 15
TE-SEM-2 HLT1IPB Interprofessional Practice B 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE1SDH Social Determinants of Health 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG1ENC Essential Nursing Care 15
Second year
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 NSG2ACA Acute Care A 30
TE-SEM-1 NSG2MIN Medications in Nursing 15
TE-SEM-1 NSG2CAD Clinical Assessment & Decisions 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG2ACB Acute Care B 30
TE-SEM-2 NSG2MHN Mental Health Nursing 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG2COM Community Nursing 15
Third year
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 NSG3CCN Complex Care Nursing 30
TE-SEM-1 NSG3NOP Nursing Older Person 15
TE-SEM-1 NSG3PTN Professional Transitions in Nursing 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG3CPC Clinical Practice Consolidation 30
TE-SEM-2 NSG3MCC Managing Chronic Conditions 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG3CIN Challenging Interactions in Nursing 15

Students who commenced prior to 2009 will complete the following course structure relevant to the Albury-Wodonga, Melbourne (Bundoora), Mildura and Shepparton campuses. Bendigo students are advised to review their respective campus section entries elsewhere in this Handbook:

First year
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 PHE1PHA Introduction to Public Health A 15
TE-SEM-1 NSG1AAS Nursing Art and Science 15
TE-SEM-1 HBS1API Introduction to Human Body 15
TE-SEM-1 NSG1LIL Information Literacy for Nurses 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG1FUN Fundamentals of Nursing Practice 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG1HAS Health Assessment for Nurses 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE1PHB Introduction to Public Health B 15
TE-SEM-2 HBS1HBF Human Body Function 10
TE-SEM-2 HBS1AON Anatomy: Organs 5
Second year
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 NSG2AUA Acute Nursing Practice A 15
TE-SEM-1 HBS2PAT Pathophysiology in Nursing 15
TE-SEM-1 NSG2PRH Promoting Health in Nursing Practice 15
TE-SEM-1 NSG2MED Medication Management for Nurses 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG2EBP Evidence Based Nursing 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG2CAF Child and Family Nursing Practice 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG2LEA Law, Ethics and Accountability for Nurses 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG2MHL Mental Health Nursing Practice 15
Third year
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 NSG3PEO Interdisciplinary Professional Practice (Subject to approval) 15
TE-SEM-1 NSG3GER Gerontic Nursing Practice 15
TE-SEM-1 NSG3NTF Nursing The Future 15
TE-SEM-1 NSG3AUB Acute Nursing Practice B 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG3AUC Acute Nursing Practice C 15
TE-SEM-2 Nursing elective Nursing Practicum elective from approved list 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG3INT Managing Complex Interactions in Nursing 15
TE-SEM-2 NSG3CPR Community Nursing Practice 15

Clinical experience

Nursing practicum subjects are offered throughout the course to complement theory and to establish skill competency. To meet the registration requirements of the Nurses Board of Victoria, students must satisfactorily achieve a range of competencies in the area of clinical practice. Clinical placements are offered in a range of metropolitan and rural settings, and are undertaken either as single days or as block experience of single to multiple weeks of experience.