You’ll receive plenty of hands-on experience, preparing you for work in the healthcare industry when you graduate.

After completing our program, you may apply for registration as a nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

On completion of your nursing program you will be required to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) registration standards including English Language Skills and Criminal History. Please review these standards on the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website: NMBA registration standards.

In this program you will:

• Gain practical skills through 800 hours of nursing placement experience in clinical settings
• Learn about anatomy and physiology
• Understand the different health requirements for people of all ages and backgrounds
• Appreciate cultural differences in delivering health care
• Work with registered nurses, who will teach you latest techniques for health care

USC will pass on your details directly to the Nursing and Midwifery Board National Board for Student Registration. The National Board will register you for the duration of your program of study or clinical training in nursing or midwifery, or until you are no longer enrolled in your approved program of study or clinical training program.

For further information about your student registration with the National Board please visit their website.

Students who wish to apply for credit from a Diploma of Nursing must have completed the qualification through a Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) approved education provider, and students hold current Enrolled Nurse registration with AHPRA.

Post-admission requirements

Before undertaking a clinical placement, students must comply with the Pre-Clinical Mandatory Checks including:

• Hold a valid Blue Card (Working with Children Check) from QLD Government Blue Card Services throughout the duration of your program. You should allow 12 weeks for Blue Card Services to issue the card.
• Obtain a National Criminal History check through the Australian Federal Police
• Comply with QLD Health vaccination requirements
• A current First Aid and CPR certificate is required from an organisation recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council, and a Mental Health First Aid online learning certificate, before commencing clinical practice
• Complete the QLD Health student orientation requirements

Refer to the Pre-Clinical Mandatory Checks for further information. In addition, students are required to complete individual health service requirements as directed by the placement provider.

Students in the program will be registered as students with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

Program special requirements

Students who meet the following criteria are required to take the Clinical Connections module before they can enrol in a clinical placement course in any given year of study:

• Those who have passed a preparation for practice course but subsequently failed the clinical placement course.
• Those who have transferred from another university with credit for a preparation for practice course but not the clinical placement course.
• Those who have taken a break from their study for two or more consecutive semesters (including students transferring from another university with credit).

Completion of the Clinical Connections module formalises reintroduction to theory and supported practice, and ensures that students can proceed to clinical placement and meet NMBA professional standards relevant to practice at their level of study.

Career opportunities

Nurse in acute care, community, regional and remote, mental health, Indigenous health or aged care.

Graduates are eligible to become members of:

• Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)
• Australian College of Nursing