Bachelor of Nursing

Federation University Australia

Course overview

Imagine knowing at the end of each day that you have had a positive influence on someone’s wellbeing. As a nurse, you will connect with a diverse range of patients on an intimate level and help them through difficult times at all life stages.

Federation will guide, support and connect you with opportunities on your journey to becoming a Registered nurse. You will learn to use clinical reasoning and evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes.

You will:

• learn to support a diverse group of patients in a variety of clinical settings
• gain practical experience across acute medical, and surgical nursing, mental health, aged care, and community care 
• undertake 800 hours of supervised placement in Victoria (or even overseas), putting your new skills into practice. 

Once you have completed your course, your registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) enables you to work anywhere in Australia.

Course specifics

First year

• anatomy and physiology
• communication for health professions
• professional, legal and ethical decision making
• person-centred nursing practice
• evidence-based practice and research
• primary health

Second year

• health promotion
• pathophysiology and pharmacology applied to person-centred nursing practice
• mental health nursing
• health and cultural diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• many technical nursing skills

Third year

• leadership for health practice
• management of deteriorating patient
• nursing people with chronic conditions
• transitioning into nursing practice
• application of evidence-based practice and research

There are many career opportunities outside of hospitals such as diabetes educator, community health nurse, school nurse, practice nurse and hospital in the home. Wherever you work, your career will be challenging, stimulating, and rewarding. You may even move into a specialised areas including midwifery or paramedicine.

Clinical placements
Our connections to hospitals and healthcare partners across Victoria will set up you up for success with placements and employment opportunities. We have long-established partnerships with organisations including:

• Ballarat Community Health
• Grampians Health 
• Dhelkaya Health
• Monash Health
• St John of God Health Care
• Knox Private Hospital
• Bass Coast Health 
• Latrobe Regional Hospital
• Gippsland hospitals (West Gippsland, Central Gippsland and Bairnsdale)

Overseas opportunities
Combine study and travel for a unique overseas experience with the help of our Global Professional School. In 2023, 16 Federation nursing students did their clinical placements in Nepal through the New Colombo Plan Mobility program. This Australian Government initiative supports undergraduates to study in 40 locations in the Indo-Pacific region.

Course delivery
Blended delivery (domestic) students will mostly study online but will be on campus for intensive blocks each semester. 
Diploma of Nursing graduates may apply for second year at Berwick, Churchill, Mt Helen or Bass Coast (Wonthaggi). 

Students applying for the Bachelor or Nursing at Bass Coast are made aware during the application process that they will undertake their clinical placements at Bass Coast Health, Wonthaggi for the duration of their degree. Alternative venues will be organised if the clinical placement focus is not offered at Wonthaggi Hospital.