As a nurse you are at the frontline for caring for patients and their loved ones; providing high level medical care, knowledge and information with warm support and empathy. When you graduate from Nursing at Murdoch you will be able to register in Australia to provide professional high quality nursing health care in a variety of clinical settings.
Nursing at Murdoch is based on the concept of a professional therapeutic nurse/client relationship and takes into account individual, contextual and modifying factors in understanding and planning nursing care.
Your early studies will emphasise the need for a good understanding of nursing and biosciences, as the foundation for later studies which focus on the complexities of competence and the knowledge required of you as a caring health professional. Extensive problem-based and experiential workplace learning opportunities will ensure you are a highly competent and a sought after graduate.
As a Murdoch Nursing student you will participate in clinical placements at a variety of locations within the Peel Region, Perth Metropolitan area and the South West Region of Western Australia.
What can I do with my Nursing degree?
Your Murdoch Nursing Degree makes you eligible to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Regardless of specialty or work setting, RN’s perform duties that include treating patients, educating patients and the public about various medical conditions, and providing advice and emotional support to patient’s families. RN’s record patients medical histories and symptoms; help to perform diagnostic tests and analyse results; operate medical machinery; administer treatment and medications; and help with patient follow up and rehabilitation. As a Registered Nurse some of your potential employers could be: Clinics; Hospitals; Home Health Care Agencies; Specialty Care Physician Offices; and Outpatient Facilities.
Professional Recognition
The Bachelor of Nursing course is fully accredited by the Nurses Board of Western Australia. Graduates from this course will be eligible to apply to the Nurses Board of Western Australia for registration in Division 1 of the register as Comprehensive Registered Nurses.
Our entry requirements tool will help you find the most appropriate and quickest pathways to admission. The tool will take you through a couple of steps to help identify the best pathways for you based on your situation. Once you have chosen the most suitable pathway you will also be provided you with information on how to apply based on the criteria you are using for admission.
Domestic student applications:
All undergrad applications for Semester 1 2009 need to be submitted through TISC. If you would like to apply for this course you can now:
Get your TISC help kit containing your course info, handy hints and advice to help make the application process even easier.
Get advice on how to structure your TISC preferences to give yourself the best chance of getting into the course of your dreams.
If you have any questions, please call Prospective Students' and Admissions Centre on 1300 687 3624 or email us at admissions@murdoch.edu.au.
International student applications:
If you would like to apply for this course you can now:
The following recommended subjects will provide you with a useful background if you are interested in studying in the area of Health Sciences: Maths, Chemistry, Physics or Biology.
We don’t have prerequisite subjects for any of our courses as we are a strong promoter of a well rounded education. However, remember that you will also need to demonstrate competence in English, normally through passing either English or English Literature or by getting a sufficiently high score in ESL.
Course structure:
Year 1
Foundation Unit
All new first year students take a Foundation Unit. These are designed so you have some idea what’s going on, because, let’s face it, you’ve never been to uni before!
Core Units
You must take these units for a particular major to gain a specialisation in this area.
Fundamentals of Cell Function
Human Bioscience I
Human Bioscience II
Introduction to Nursing Practice
Introduction to Nursing Practice – Clinical Placement
Developmental Health Assessment
Developmental Health Assessment – Clinical Placement
Holistic Nursing I
Holistic Nursing I – Clinical Placement
Research for Nursing Practice
Special Requirements
A police clearance is required as well as a level of health suitable to meet the requirements of such a course and to meet safe nursing practice. Screening for tuberculosis, rubella, chicken pox, hepatitis B and MRSA is required. Students must also complete a CPR Certificate before commencement in their first external clinical placement.
Your Murdoch degree in Nursing makes you eligible to be a Registered Nurse (RN). Regardless of specialty or work setting, RN’s perform basic duties that include treating patients, educating patients and the public about various medical conditions, and providing advice and emotional support to patients’ family members. RN’s record patients’ medical histories and symptoms; help to perform diagnostic tests and analyse results; operate medical machinery; administer treatment and medications; and help with patient follow-up and rehabilitation.
Professions
What they do
Registered Nurse
RN’s may specialise by work setting or by type of care provided. For example, critical care nurses work in critical or intensive care hospital units and provide care to patients with cardiovascular, respiratory, or pulmonary failure.
Emergency, or trauma, nurses work in hospital emergency departments and treat patients with life-threatening conditions caused by accidents, heart attacks, and strokes. Some emergency nurses are flight nurses, who provide medical care to patients who must be flown by helicopter to the nearest medical facility.
Holistic nurses provide care such as acupuncture, massage and aroma therapy, and biofeedback, which are meant to treat patients’ mental and spiritual health in addition to their physical health.
Home health care nurses provide at-home care for patients who are recovering from surgery, accidents, and childbirth. Hospice and palliative care nurses provide care for, and help ease the pain of, terminally ill patients outside of hospitals. Long-term care nurses provide medical services on a recurring basis to patients with chronic physical or mental disorders.
Occupational health nurses provide treatment for job-related injuries and illnesses and help employers to detect workplace hazards and implement health and safety standards.
Peri operative nurses assist surgeons by selecting and handling instruments, controlling bleeding, and suturing incisions. Some of these nurses also can specialise in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Psychiatric nurses treat patients with personality and mood disorders.
Radiologic nurses provide care to patients undergoing diagnostic radiation procedures such as ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging.
Rehabilitation nurses care for patients with temporary and permanent disabilities.
Transplant nurses care for both transplant recipients and living donors and monitor signs of organ rejection.
RN’s specialising in treatment of a particular organ or body system usually are employed in specialty physicians’ offices or outpatient care facilities, although some are employed in hospital specialty or critical care units. For example, Cardiac and Vascular nurses treat patients with coronary heart disease and those who have had heart surgery, providing services such as postoperative rehabilitation.
Dermatology nurses treat patients with disorders of the skin, such as skin cancer and psoriasis.
Gastroenterology nurses treat patients with digestive and intestinal disorders, including ulcers, acid reflux disease, and abdominal bleeding. Some nurses in this field also specialise in endoscopic procedures, which look inside the gastrointestinal tract using a tube equipped with a light and a camera that can capture images of diseased tissue.
Gynaecology nurses provide care to women with disorders of the reproductive system, including endometriosis, cancer, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Nephrology nurses care for patients with kidney disease caused by diabetes, hypertension, or substance abuse.
Neuroscience nurses care for patients with dysfunctions of the nervous system, including brain and spinal cord injuries and seizures.
Ophthalmic nurses provide care to patients with disorders of the eyes, including blindness and glaucoma, and to patients undergoing eye surgery.
Orthopaedic nurses care for patients with muscular and skeletal problems, including arthritis, bone fractures, and muscular dystrophy. Otorhinolaryngology nurses care for patients with ear, nose, and throat disorders, such as cleft palates, allergies, and sinus disorders.
Respiratory nurses provide care to patients with respiratory disorders such as asthma, tuberculosis, and cystic fibrosis.
Urology nurses care for patients with disorders of the kidneys, urinary tract, and male reproductive organs, including infections, kidney and bladder stones, and cancers.
