What to expect

Complete your nursing degree online, with the benefit of extensive supervised professional practice in real world settings from your first year of study.

This three-year full-time online course focuses on nursing in our northern tropical context. It prepares you to work in multiple settings, from large metropolitan hospitals to rural and isolated practice clinics.

Apply your theoretical knowledge in a practical context, preparing you for smooth transition into the workplace. Australian clinical placement is provided in a range of contemporary health settings. You will also have the opportunity to go on an overseas student exchange or an international placement experience.

JCU's exceptional learner engagement, teaching resources and leading lecturers ensure you graduate job ready.

Graduates will be eligible for registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

Honours

The Bachelor of Nursing Science (Honours) degree is available for high-achieving students. It consists of extra study and the development of a personal research project and thesis. An Honours degree is usually essential for entry to research higher degrees.

Career Opportunities

A JCU Nursing degree prepares you for a career in a range of rural, regional and metropolitan nursing settings. This unique focus will distinguish you from your peers throughout your career.

JCU Nursing graduates are known for their skill, care and work across Australia and internationally. Graduates work in a variety of areas, such as metropolitan hospitals, rural and regional centres, Government departments and defence, non-government agencies and community health.

This degree provides a strong foundation for future specialisation in areas such as emergency, mental health, aged care, oncology and community health, rural and remote practice or in health policy, research, management, or education sectors.

Course learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, the graduate will be able to:

In collaboration with other health care professionals:

• Employ critical thinking and the best available evidence in making decisions that guide safe, quality nursing practice within person-centred and evidence-based frameworks.
• Purposefully engage in effective therapeutic and professional relationships based on collegial generosity in a context of mutual trust and respect.
• Demonstrate accountability for ensuring they are safe, capable practitioners, including ongoing self-management and responding to concerns about other health professionals’ capability for practice.
• Accept responsibility for their professional development and contribute to the development of others, including the provision of information and education that enable people to make decisions and take action in relation to their health.
• Accurately conduct comprehensive and systematic assessments, including the analysis of information, data and outcomes as the basis for practice.
• Collaboratively plan, administer, document and effectively communicate quality nursing practice based on the appraisal of comprehensive, relevant information and evidence.
• Administer, or as appropriate delegate, quality and ethical goal-directed care based on comprehensive and systematic assessment, and the best available evidence, to achieve planned and agreed outcomes.
• Take responsibility for the evaluation of practice based on agreed priorities, goals, plans and outcomes and revise practice accordingly.

Please note students will complete the course in 3.5 years when starting mid-year.