Helping families through the moments that matter
In recent years, we’ve experienced first-hand the importance of nurses in our healthcare systems, providing critical care across hospitals, aged care, disability and community settings. From bringing new life into the world to supporting patients in end-of-life care, and everything in between, La Trobe’s nursing and midwifery students and graduates are making a real impact in moments that matter the most.
Equipping students with real-world experience that makes a real impact
La Trobe University aims to transform lives of individuals and families by equipping the next generation of nurses and midwives with knowledge backed by real experience, so graduates are confident, skilled and ready to make an impact.
When it comes to learning, nothing beats hands-on experience in real-world settings. Bachelor of Nursing students complete 840 hours of placements across the course of the degree, with combined Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery students completing an additional 1007 hours of placements.
Nursing placements are across a variety of healthcare settings such as acute, sub-acute and rehabilitation. This means students are exposed to different areas of nursing such as aged care, mental health and primary health care nursing.
Midwifery students also gain exposure in a range of settings, including birth suites, day assessment centres and special care nurseries.
Our reputation in nursing and midwifery is demonstrated in the success of our graduates. La Trobe’s health graduates are highly skilled and job-ready, with 89.9%1 of undergraduate health services and support graduates and 93.8%2 of postgraduate nursing graduates finding employment within four months of graduation.
Preparing students for placement with high-tech labs and on-site teaching spaces
Preparing for clinical placements can be stressful. To take some of the pressure off, La Trobe has invested in top-notch facilities so students can hone their skills and practice with equipment in modern nursing facilities. This includes immersive simulated labs with high-tech manikins, equipped ward rooms with beds, control and observation capabilities, and video equipment.
Our clinical learning environments provide realistic settings where students can master the practice-based skills of their profession in a safe and supportive environment, ensuring they are ready to use them when they go into real practice settings.
Nursing and midwifery students will also benefit from La Trobe’s unique clinical school model. Unlike other nursing schools, La Trobe has dedicated university teaching space on-site at key Melbourne metropolitan health services (Alfred Health, Austin Health, Melbourne Health and Northern Health) where students will learn in their final years.
This approach aims to reduce the transition that comes with working as a new graduate, helping our students make smooth transitions to their professional working lives.
Setting the standard for healthcare research and wellbeing
La Trobe has a proud history as one of the early pioneers in nursing and midwifery education in Australia, with a world-renowned reputation both locally and internally.
We’re ranked in the world’s top 1003 for nursing programs, with our research in nursing rated ‘well above world standard4’.
When it comes to learning how to save lives, it’s important to learn from the best. The School of Nursing and Midwifery’s teachers are skilled practitioners in their specialised fields, so students learn from nurses and midwives with years of experience in the industry.
La Trobe University is a leader in health, backing passion with real-world impact in the here and now. La Trobe is fourth in the world for support for healthcare professions, research into key diseases and conditions, and caring for the health of students and staff5.
What kind of impact could you make knowing you’re backed by a globally recognised university that supports our healthcare professions? Get started by studying health at La Trobe.
#theimpactisreal
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1. Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT), 2021, ComparED: Health Services & Support (Undergraduate)
2. Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT), 2021, ComparED: Pharmacy (undergraduate)
3. Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), 2022, QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022: Nursing
4. Australian Research Council, 2019, Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) Outcomes 2018