- Focus on primary health care as it influences health and the practice of nursing and midwifery
- Support to provide continuity of midwifery care for women throughout their pregnancy, birth and postnatal period
- Professional placements and extended internships in both nursing and midwifery
Program summary
Program title: Bachelor of Nursing Science / Bachelor of Midwifery
Award abbreviation: BNursSc/BMid
QTAC code: 013461
OP / Rank for 2013 entry: OP-9 / Rank-82
Duration: 4 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Commence: Semester 1
Study mode: on campus
Recommended prior study: English; Maths A, B or C; and at least one of the sciences
Recommended prior preparation: Criminal History check, Hepatitis B immunisation, First Aid and CPR training (refer to Program Requirements)
Fee type 2013: Commonwealth supported places, fee paying places
Total units: 384
USC program code: SC394
CRICOS code: Not available to international students on a Student visa.
The Bachelor of Nursing Science / Bachelor of Midwifery program aims to prepare graduates to meet the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse and Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Midwife. The program will prepare students to practice in a range of health care settings and to contribute to improving health outcomes through nursing and midwifery practice. Graduates will be prepared to practice as a midwife as defined by the International Confederation of Midwives.
Additional admission requirements
This program has higher English language proficiency requirements than most other programs at this level offered by the University.
Refer to the English language requirements for more information.
Post-admission requirements
Before undertaking clinical placement you are required to obtain and maintain a current First Aid and CPR Certificate, provide evidence of Hepatitis B vaccination, undergo a National Criminal History Check and obtain a Suitability Card. Refer to Program requirements and notes.
Career opportunities
Career opportunities for registered midwives include hospital based and community midwifery, group practice, and team midwifery in metropolitan, rural and remote locations.
Career opportunities for registered nurses includes acute and community practice, general practice, rural and remote practice, and speciality practice.
Professional recognition
Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as a nurse and also as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
Graduates of the double degree will be eligible for membership to the Australian College of Midwives and the Australian College of Nursing.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia have a number of registration standards. Graduates must demonstrate that they meet these standards in order to be eligible for registration. These include:
- English language standard: graduates must demonstrate English language skills at IELTS level 7 or equivalent before being considered for professional registration. Test results from relevant examinations will generally need to be obtained within two years prior to applying for registration.
- Criminal History standard: applies to all applicants and all registered health practitioners.
- Professional indemnity insurance arrangements standard: Nurses and midwives must not practise their professions unless they are covered in the conduct of their practice by appropriate professional indemnity insurance.
- Continuing Professional Development Standard: Nurses and midwives must meet the continuing professional development standards.
- Recency of practice registration standard: Nurses and midwives must have undertaken sufficient practice to demonstrate competence in their professions within the preceding five years.
Please refer to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website for additional information on the Board's Registration Standards.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the organisation responsible for the implementation of the National Registration and Accreditation scheme across Australia. AHPRA supports the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, which is responsible for regulating nursing and midwifery. Please refer to the AHPRA website for detailed information.
Student registration
Students in nursing and midwifery programs are required to be registered with AHPRA as students under the National Law. The university arrange for your registration, you do not need to do anything to register. Please refer to the AHPRA website for detailed information.
Enquiries
- Contact Student Administration for application and admission information
- Contact the Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering for program advice
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- complete all courses (384 units) as listed below
- attend courses offered in Sessions (where applicable)
In order to commence clinical placement you must:
- Hold a valid Suitability Card (Blue Card), throughout the duration of your program, which is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). You should allow 12 weeks for CCYPCG to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the clinical practice component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements.
- have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority)
- show evidence of complete Hepatitis B vaccination (3 inoculations over a period of six months)
- hold a current First Aid and CPR certificate from an organisation recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council
Students are expected to:
- travel to attend clinical placements
- make time commitment to complete the required clinical requirements including midwifery continuity of care experiences; students are required to complete 20 continuity of care experiences with women and their families, which will mean engagement in the program across the full calendar year
- have a level of computer literacy, including word processing and email
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and undertaking some courses in Session 4 (Winter) or 8 (Summer).
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
- The Global Opportunities (GO) Program is not available to students studying in the Bachelor of Nursing Science/Bachelor of Midwifery program.
- When enrolling, please refer to the Study Plan.
Program structure
Introductory courses (12)
COR109 Nursing Practicum 3
HLT100 Caring for the Older Client
HLT121 Nursing Practicum 4
HLT122 Preparing for Midwifery Practice #
HLT123 Nursing Internship #
HLT131 Midwifery Internship
HLT132 Transcultural Health Practices
LFS103 Communication and Thought
NUR103 Anatomy and Physiology
NUR121 Midwifery Foundations
NUR131 Developing Midwifery
NUR212 Midwifery Practice 1
Advanced courses (18)
HLT201 Practice Principles for Midwifery and Nursing ^
HLT202 Health Assessment in Nursing and Midwifery Practice #
HLT203 Introductory Bioscience #
HLT221 Nursing Practicum 1
HLT301 Health, Culture and Society
HLT310 Research Foundations %
HLT311 Caring for Child, Youth and Family ^
HLT312 Therapeutics in Midwifery %
NUR202 Midwifery Practice 2
NUR211 Advancing Midwifery
NUR222 Human Pathophysiology
NUR231 Challenges to Mental Health
NUR241 Preparing for Midwifery Practice
NUR300 Midwifery Practice 3
NUR311 Midwifery Internship
NUR331 Nursing Practicum 3
NUR332 Nursing Practicum 2
NUR341 Health Law and Ethics
# Students should be aware these courses are not available until 2014
^ Students should be aware these courses are not available until 2015
% Students should be aware these courses are not available until 2016
This Bachelor of Nursing Science / Bachelor of Midwifery Study Plan is for students commencing in Semester 1, 2013.
Year 1
Required courses: (8)
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| COR109 Introduction to Psychology B | |||
| LFS103 Current Directions in Psychology | |||
| HLT121 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change | |||
| HLT131 Introduction to Indigenous Australia | |||
| HLT100 Social Work and Human Services Practice | |||
| HLT132 Social Research | |||
| NUR103 Social Justice, Welfare and the State | |||
| NUR212 Communication and Thought |
Year 2
Required courses: (8)
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| HLT122 Introductory Bioscience | |||
| HLT123 Midwifery Foundations | |||
| HLT301 Practice Principles for Midwifery and Nursing | |||
| NUR121 Anatomy and Physiology | |||
| HLT203 Health Assessment in Nursing and Midwifery Practice | |||
| HLT202 Nursing Practicum 1 | |||
| NUR222 Caring for Child, Youth and Family | |||
| NUR131 Developing Midwifery |
Year 3
- Eight (8) required courses:
NUR202 will be offered in Session 8 (Summer) in 2015 for this program
HLT201 , HLT311 are not available until 2015
Required courses: (8)
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUR241 Midwifery Practice 1 | |||
| NUR211 Challenges to Mental Health | |||
| HLT221 Health, Culture and Society | |||
| NUR231 Advancing Midwifery | |||
| HLT201 Midwifery Practice 2 | |||
| HLT311 Health Law and Ethics | |||
| NUR331 Research Foundations | |||
| NUR202 Health Alteration |
Year 4
- Six (6) required courses:
NUR300 should be studied in Session 4 (Winter)
HLT310 , HLT312 are not available until 2016
Required courses: (6)
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUR341 Nursing Practicum 2 | |||
| NUR311 Human Pathophysiology | |||
| HLT310 Drug Therapy | |||
| NUR300 Therapeutics in Midwifery | |||
| HLT312 Midwifery Practice 3 | |||
| NUR332 Acute Health Alteration |