Bachelor of Nursing

The ANU pathway to Registered Nurse practice runs through the ANU School of Medicine and Psychology as an ANMAC-accredited program leading to AHPRA Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia registration. Year one covers anatomy and physiology for nursing, professional practice and communication, the Australian healthcare system, primary health care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and the first 80 hours of clinical placement in simulation and clinical settings. Year two layers pathophysiology and pharmacology, evidence-based practice and research methods, mental health nursing, acute care nursing and chronic disease management with around 240 hours of clinical placement across Canberra Health Services and Calvary Public Bruce. Year three carries complex care, indigenous health, leadership and transition to practice, with the final 320 to 400 hours of clinical placement across multiple settings. ANMAC requires a minimum 800 clinical placement hours over the degree. Simulation labs and OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations) are built into every semester. Class sizes are smaller than at GO8 peers, with skills labs typically 12 to 16 students.

ANU delivers around 800 hours of supervised clinical placement (ANMAC minimum). Placements rotate through Canberra Health Services (Canberra Hospital and Centenary Hospital for Women and Children), Calvary Public Hospital Bruce, ACT mental health services, community and primary care, aged care and one regional or rural block (frequently to Goulburn, Cooma or the Eurobodalla). Placements are unpaid for credit. The university supplies uniforms and clinical equipment, while students cover ACT Health screening, vaccinations, Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration and travel to placement sites. Some students complete a final-year elective placement in a specialty area (emergency, ICU, paediatrics) to build a CV before graduate year applications.

Graduates apply to the Canberra Health Services Transitional Nursing Practice Program (graduate year) at Canberra Hospital and Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, or the equivalent at Calvary Public Hospital Bruce. After two years of clinical experience, RNs can specialise via postgraduate certificates and diplomas (emergency, critical care, paediatrics, mental health, perioperative) or a Master of Nursing. Nurse practitioner endorsement requires the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) and significant clinical hours. Many alumni progress into clinical educator, nurse unit manager and clinical specialist roles within five to seven years. ANU also runs a research Honours year for graduates considering a Master of Nursing Research or PhD.