Bachelor of Nursing

A Bachelor of Nursing at CQUniversity will equip you with the theoretical, practical and research knowledge required to be a competent and effective nursing professional. The program incorporates 840 hours of clinical placement in a variety of settings. Our integrated clinical placement strategy is highly successful and offers placement across Australia. Throughout the entirety of the program, we provide the right balance of theory and workplace learning opportunities to ensure highly employable, confident and ‘work-ready’ graduates.

CQUniversity’s team of dedicated educators are experienced clinical nurses with a wide range of academic achievements in nursing specialities. Our close industry links ensure the program is constantly updated and responsive to marketplace needs. In addition, we’ve taken in-depth learnings from our distance education programs and applied these to deliver a flexible and engaged learning environment for all students. You are able to study our nursing programs from any location in Australia by distance education, giving you the opportunity to balance study with your work and life commitments.

Courses undertaken in the Bachelor of Nursing are designed to prepare you for the everyday role of being a nurse. At the same time, the program allows for the incorporation of elective courses in the second or third year, providing you the option to specialise in an area of interest.

What am I studying?

Nurses are healthcare professionals who are focused on caring for individuals, families, groups and communities.  Nurses are capable of assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care, while at the same time providing support to highly-skilled medical practitioners.

Nurses may practice in a wide variety of workplaces from hospitals, clinics and physician offices to private homes, schools, government and industry organisations, retirement homes, hospices and other care facilities. Some nurses may also advise and work as consultants in healthcare, or within pharmaceutical, insurance or legal industries.

The practice of nursing continues to change with constant advancements in research and technology, providing a varied and challenging career. A career in nursing is a globally-recognised qualification and will provide you with excellent employment prospects, diversity and responsibility in your work, plus the ability to travel.

In Australia all nurses must be registered to practice with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Authority (AHPRA). There are three major categories related to nursing, an enrolled nurse (EN), registered nurse (RN) and nurse practitioner (NP). A registered EN may be able to find paid work or choose to undertake further study to graduate at a university level to become an RN. RN's who complete specialised postgraduate level education can become licensed to practice with further responsibility as an NP in an area of specialty such as the defence forces, community health, paediatrics, theatre, mental health, palliative care or aged care.

Why Study Nursing at CQUniversity

CQUniversity’s health and medical sciences programs have been developed to meet the ever increasing needs of our communities both here in Australia and for the wider global audience. Many of our programs are extremely flexible, with part-time or full-time study options and the choice of studying on-campus or by distance education.  This flexibility allows students to study from anywhere in Australia while they continue to work and balance family life and other commitments.

CQUniversity programs are constantly being reviewed and updated in consultation with industry and other stakeholders to ensure that they are relevant and up to date. In fact, our suite of new offerings has been built as a direct response to industry needs by people with specialised industry experience.

Another key feature in the large majority of CQUniversity’s health and medical science programs is the integration of workplace-integrated learning or learning on the job. Students are required to complete course undertakings in real-life workplaces, allowing them to put learning directly into practice.  This hands-on, project-based learning is a key reason as to why CQUniversity graduates are highly sought after by employers.  

Quality on-campus facilities ensure learning is delivered ‘in context’, taught in a similar setting to that of a real-world situation.  New facilities including state-of-the-art technology for fitness and body function testing offer exercise and sport science students sophisticated training.  Nursing students have access to fully equipped labs that replicate a real-life hospital ward, while medical imaging and medical sonography are taught from new purpose built multi-million dollar labs. The new Allied Health Clinic at CQUniversity Rockkhampton will also provide clinical learning experiences to allied health students.

CQUniversity’s Health and Medical Sciences academic staff are at the forefront of their respective fields, often still contributing to and working within industry and the community.  Lecturers have a strong teaching and learning ethos and are committed to delivering quality learning experiences. CQUniversity’s Dr Kerry Reid-Searl has pioneered a world-first teaching technique soon to be commercially released called ‘Mask-Ed’, which involves silicon props worn by lecturers to help simulate real-life clinical scenarios in nursing-related practical sessions.

English Requirements

If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, South Africa or USA the only way to meet the English Language Prerequisite is by the following:

An academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) completed within the last 2 years (from the term you are applying to start) with a minimum achievement of 6.5 in each band and overall or a secondary or university qualification which is not more than 5 years old (from the term you are applying for entry into) with a satisfactory level of achievement of at least 2 years in duration from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, South Africa or USA.

The English Language Proficiency requirements may also be satisfied by (results are to be no older than 2 years from the start of term):

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):
• • 600 of better overall and a minimum TWE score of 5.0 (Paper Based Test), or 250 or better overall and minimum essay writing score of 5.0 (Computer Based Test), or 100 or better overall and a score of 25 of better in the writing section (Internet Based Test).
  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): An overall score of 64 with no communication score less than 64.
• Occupational Test - Result of 'A' or 'B'

Career Opportunities

On completing a Bachelor of Nursing and acquiring registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, you can work as a registered nurse (RN) anywhere in Australia.  Salaries for Registered Nurses start at approximately $56 500 (AUD) and given the critical shortage here and throughout the world, employment prospects are ample.  Once qualified, Registered Nurses can choose from a number of nursing roles in the healthcare profession, including positions in public and private hospitals, general health services, mental health, community health, residential care, indigenous health, remote and rural health, and many other areas.

Work Intergrated Learning

You will be required to undertake approximately 840 hours of off campus clinical placements during the three year program.

Program Structure

The Bachelor of Nursing requires completion of 22 core courses. In additiona to core courses, one elective course must also be completed. Students interested in mental health may undertake a mental health elective stream and complete 21 core courses and two mental health courses. Clinical placements commence from Term Two in the first year of study (or equivalent part-time).

Course Information

For example courses you could study as part of the Bachelor of Nursing program please click here.

As CQUniversity is committed to providing quality, up-to-date and relevant education, please note courses are refreshed regularly and may not be an exact indication of course availability for your study. Please call 13CQUni 13 27 86 if you have specific questions regarding course information regarding your specific application.

Residential School and Study Requirements

There are compulsory residential schools and workshops for distance students.

Professional Recognition

CQUniversity’s Bachelor of Nursing is accredited by the National Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.  Upon completion you will be eligible to apply for registration with this Board and be able to work as a Registered Nurse throughout Australia.