Bachelor of Nursing

UC runs one of the largest nursing programs in the ACT - the Bachelor of Nursing is a three-year ANMAC accredited program leading to AHPRA Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia registration as a Registered Nurse. The program is co-located with UC Hospital Bruce, giving students direct access to a public teaching hospital on campus. Year one covers anatomy and physiology, 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. 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. 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 for skills labs typically run at 12 to 18 students.

UC delivers around 800 hours of supervised clinical placement (ANMAC minimum). Placements rotate through UC Hospital Bruce, 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 Queanbeyan, Goulburn, Cooma or the Eurobodalla under the federal NSW rural placement support). 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, the Calvary Public Hospital Bruce graduate program (literally next door to the UC campus), and UC 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. UC also runs a research Honours year for graduates considering a Master of Nursing Research or PhD. Many alumni progress into clinical educator, nurse unit manager and clinical specialist roles within five to seven years.