Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Studies)

The Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Studies) is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and addresses all of the essential criteria for registration as a beginning practitioner, in most areas in which graduates may wish to practice.

Course overview

The Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Studies) is a three-year pre-registration program for students without previous tertiary qualifications. It is designed to introduce students to the profession of nursing through an integration of both clinical practice and theory.

The units of study and the order in which you will take them is predetermined and is described in the unit of study tables. Students who have previously studied units at the undergraduate level that are similar in nature to those offered in the Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Studies) are welcome to apply for credit. You can apply for credit through Sydney Student where your request will be evaluated and the outcome recorded. Please note that the awarding of credit for previously studied units is not guaranteed.

The pre-registration courses at Sydney Nursing School involve significant participation in off-campus clinical placements. You will complete more than 800 clinical hours during your degree. Before each clinical placement you will practise your skills in our clinical labs and high fidelity simulation wards. Clinical placement sites include private and public hospitals, mental health services and community health settings. The majority of clinical placements occur within the Sydney metropolitan area, although you will also be expected to undertake some clinical placements in rural locations. You will need to be available to complete full-time weeks of shiftwork throughout University holiday periods in order to complete your clinical placements.

Important information to prepare you for clinical placements:

• Plan your work and holiday periods so that they do not clash with your set and supplementary clinical placement periods as outlined in the
  Sydney Nursing School Calendar 2018 (PDF)
• Read the Sydney Nursing School Local Provisions for Professional Experience Placements also known as the SNS Clinical Policy
• Read and follow the guidelines for compliance with the NSW Ministry of Health at: NSW Health Student Clearances for Clinical Placements

Workload

The Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Studies) consists of 144 credit points and 24 units of study (each worth six credit points), with eight units of study offered in each academic year. In terms of workload, most six credit point units of study consist of attendance at lectures, tutorials and/or laboratory sessions on a regular basis. There are also pre-reading and assessment items equating to approximately 10 hours per week. The course is offered only in the on-campus mode.

English language requirements

Students are strongly advised that all units of study are presented on the assumption that they possess a high level of competency in English (currently an IELTS overall band score of 7.0 with a minimum of 7.0 in each band, or equivalent score in another recognised test). This is particularly the case in respect of clinical education units of study where students require language skills that will not be challenged in a critical situation.

For safe practice, nurses require a high level of verbal and written English language skills, particularly technical language. Good English language skills are also necessary to fulfil the University's generic skills and the competency requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Applicants are strongly advised to make enquiries with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia regarding English language requirements for registration as these may differ from the English language requirements needed for admission into this program.

If you are facing difficulties with English language, either in the classroom or in the clinical environment, academic staff will recommend that you attend University support programs. You will be expected to use this assistance, so that you can perform well and communicate effectively with peers, teachers and patients or clients.