Bachelor of Nursing

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

• engage in critical inquiry-orientated healthcare activities as a beginning registered nurse, to provide care to individuals, families and groups from diverse backgrounds across the lifespan

• be highly literate in their use and management of information and evidence-based knowledge for greatest practice effect across a range of healthcare settings

• demonstrate leadership within inter-professional teams through the use of personal, intellectual and creative autonomy

• exhibit personal values and beliefs consistent with their role as responsible members of local, national and international and professional communities in a 21st century healthcare workforce

• recognise and value communication as a tool for negotiation and creating new understandings, interacting with others and furthering their own learning

• engage effectively in the therapeutic care of individuals and the advancement of their discipline.

Career opportunities

Swinburne University of Technology offers exceptional nursing education, through innovative teaching and learning and through strong industry partnerships. Our graduates go on to work as nurses in a range of areas including primary health care, acute inpatient medical surgical, chronic disease management, mental health, child and family health, palliative care, community nursing, aged care, workplace safety, rural and Indigenous health and emergency medicine.

Professional recognition

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council accredits the course. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) approves the course to enable graduates to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse. This registration is managed through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). The NMBA website sets out all of the registration standards that graduates must meet.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Nursing students must complete 300 credit points comprising:

• twenty [20] core units of study - comprising sixteen (16) 12.5 credit point units of study and four (4) 25 credit point units of study

Students must complete 800 Professional Experience Placement hours in order to graduate and register as a nurse.

Pass-only grades are applied to the assessment of competencies for all professional experience practice placements.

Conceded passes are not accepted by the external accrediting body and thus will not be granted in accordance with Academic Courses Regulation 52.

Academic progress – special requirements

In addition to the standard academic progress rules, this course has the following additional academic progress rules which are established in accordance with Academic Courses Regulation 62(2):

1. A student is classified as 'at risk' of unsatisfactory progress if they:
   1. fail any unit of study
   2. behave in a manner which breaches the Swinburne Student Charter whilst on a professional placement
2. A student is classified as 'unsatisfactory progress' if they:
   1. fail any unit of study in the next Progress Review period after being classified as being 'at risk'
   2. fail a Professional Placement or Work Experience in Industry  unit
   3. have their professional placement terminated early by an industry partner. In the case of early termination of an industry placement by an industry partner, the student will be deemed as having 'unsatisfactory progress' and a progress review hearing may be convened within 2 weeks of the cessation of the placement

Students who are identified as having unsatisfactory progress will be subject to the show cause provisions in the Progress Review section of the Academic Progress Policy.

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted is one year - 100 credit points (normally eight units). All applications for RPL are considered on an individual basis as per the university policies and procedures.

Accreditation placements

Accredited placements are structured opportunities that allow students to gain practical experience in their chosen fields. These placements are part of academic programs and are recognised by educational institutions, enhancing the credibility of the experience. They provide a valuable bridge between theoretical knowledge and real-world application, allowing participants to develop essential skills, network with industry professionals, and enhance their employability. 

Students undertaking the Bachelor of Nursing accreditation placement are subject to fees requirements and must obtain the following:

• uniform
• police check
• working with children check (WWCC)
• NDIS screening check
• immunisation form
• COVID-19 vaccination 
• hand hygine certificate 
• N95 mask fit testing.

Further information for students

Swinburne supports students to make informed choices when applying for and enrolling in courses. In the nursing discipline, there are functional and behavioural abilities required to undertake tasks, learning activities or assessments that ensure that the student is fit to practice, physically, psychologically, and emotionally. It is important that students are fit for practice when attending Professional Experience Placement (PEP) to ensure their safety as well as the safety of patients in their care and colleagues with whom they are working. These functions are described below to assist prospective students when assessing whether they can successfully undertake the course to become a safe practicing registered nurse.

Reasonable adjustments

Swinburne upholds inclusive academic practices to support students with disabilities and other conditions to undertake courses and participate in study. Students with a disability or a chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments implemented through viable arrangements to enable students to undertake their studies and meet the fitness to practice requirements of the course without undermining core course requirements. 

Students considering whether they may be eligible for reasonable adjustments should contact Swinburne’s AccessAbility Services and will need to complete an AccessAbility Registration Form.

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record 

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.