Description
This double degree will allow you to graduate with two qualifications. Not only will you gain the skills and knowledge needed to become a registered nurse but you will also gain the ability to work as a paramedic.
The Bachelor of Nursing is known for producing adaptable, safe and ethical nurses – in fact, more nurses graduate from ACU than anywhere else in Australia. We use learner–centred approaches including case studies and situation–based learning to enhance students’ experiences as well as their readiness for the workplace.
The Bachelor of Paramedicine will teach you how to analyse situations and react appropriately, whether it’s a cardiovascular emergency or dealing with someone in trauma.
As a graduate, you will be qualified to work in a wide range of careers, such as a:
- aged care nursing
- community nursing
- medical dispatcher
- medical/surgical nursing
- paramedic
With further study, qualified paramedics can become intensive–care paramedics (ICPs), team leaders or special operations team (SOT) rescue paramedics.
Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Paramedicine students will also gain valuable practical experience in a range of health care environments.
You may also take up the opportunity to engage with communities overseas and gain unique educational and cultural experiences working in care facilities in developing countries.
Course duration
4 years full-time or equivalent part-time.
Campus availability and study mode
Campus availability
- Ballarat (Attendance)
- Brisbane (Attendance)
- Canberra (Attendance)
Study mode definitions
Attendance: Face-to-face and/or via video conference, at an ACU campus or another location.
Multi-mode: A combination of Online and Attendance (including examinations, practicums, residentials, etc.).
Online: Fully online (including assessments).
Sample Course Map
| Year – Study Period | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 - Semester 1 | HLSC122 Evidence for practice | HLSC110 Beginning Professional Practice | BIOL121 Human Biological Science 1 | NRSG139 Integrating Practice 1: Assessment in Health |
| Year 1 - Semester 2 | HLSC111 The Person, health and wellbeing | BIOL122 Human biological science 2 (Pre: BIOL121) | PARA104 Foundations of paramedic practice | NRSG140 Integrating practice 2 (Pre: NRSG139) |
| Year 2 - Semester 1 | HLSC120 Indigenous health and culture | NRSG263 Principles of Nursing: Mental Health | PARA107 Paramedic Theory: Trauma Emergencies (Pre: PARA104, BIOL121) | PARA108 Paramedic practice: trauma emergencies (Pre: PARA104, BIOL121) |
| Year 2 - Semester 2 | NRSG265 Principles Of nursing: medical | NRSG266 Principles of nursing: contexts of ageing | PARA201 Paramedic theory: medical 1 (Pre: PARA104) | PARA202 Paramedic practice: medical 1 (Pre: PARA104) |
| Year 3 - Semester 1 | UNCC100 Self and community: exploring the anatomy of modern society | NRSG258 Principles of nursing: surgical | NRSG264 Integrating practice 3 (Pre: NRSG140) | PARA213 Paramedic theory and practice: medical 2 (Pre: PARA202) |
| Year 3 - Semester 2 | HLSC220 Health care ethics | NRSG374 Principles of nursing: A palliative approach (Pre: Completion of a minimum of 140 credit points) | NRSG267 Integrating practice 4 (Pre: NRSG140) | PARA320 Paramedic theory and practice: population variances (Pre: PARA201, PARA202) |
| Year 4 - Semester 1 | NRSG371 Building healthy communities (Pre: Completion of a minimum of 140 credit points) | NRSG372 Principles of nursing: chronic illness and disability (Pre: Completion of a minimum of 140 credit points) | NRSG373 Integrating practice 5 (Pre: NRSG264, NRSG267) | PARA300 Consolidated and extended paramedic practice (Pre: PARA213) |
| Year 4 - Semester 2 | NRSG375 Clinical leadership (Pre: Completion of a minimum of 240 credit points) | NRSG367 Transition to professional nursing (Pre: Completion of a minimum of 240 credit points) | NRSG376 Integrating practice 6 (Pre: NRSG373) | PARA305 Pre-hospital major incident management (Pre: PARA213) |
'Pre:' – indicates a unit that must be completed before the next unit can be undertaken (prerequisite).
A blank cell indicates that there are no additional units required for that study period.
This is a sample program only and units will vary between states. Please refer to the handbook for the prerequisite units and the current listing.
Deferment, credit points & course units
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment: Deferment Information.Credit Points
320
Course Units (Subjects)
Schedule of Unit OfferingsStart dates
- Semester 1 - February
- Semester 2 - To be advised
- Semester 1 - February
- Semester 2 - To be advised
- Semester 1 - February
- Semester 2 - To be advised
Course costs
- Average first year fee: $7745 Commonwealth Supported (indicative only; subject to passage of legislation)
Important Note on Fees
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of 40 credit points (normally 4 units) per semester.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- the number of units studied per semester;
- the choice of major or specialisation; and
- elective units.
The University reviews fees annually.
Essential requirements for admission
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at year 12 level, or equivalent.
ACT
- Assumed knowledge: Nil.
Queensland
- Prerequisites: English (4, SA).
Victoria
- Prerequisites: Units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL.
*Disclaimer: The Course entry requirements above are for 2020 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.
Admission criteria
The table below shows the range of ATARs/OPs (excludes adjustment factors) and Selection Ranks (may include adjustment factors) achieved by students who were accepted into this course last year. These may vary from year to year. Learn more about admission to ACU.
ATAR/OP range
For those offered places in 2019
Student Profile
Breakdown of how students entered this course last year and in what numbers.
Further information
Inherent Requirements
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit. Learn more about inherent requirements and how they affect you, and explore the requirements for your course.
Applying for admission
Admission Pathways to this course
Admission Schemes
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admission Program
- Community Achiever Program (CAP)
- ACU's Schools' Recommendation Program (SRP)
- Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) - NSW/ACT only
Adjustment Factors which may improve your Selection Rank
- Most applicants to undergraduate courses at ACU are eligible for adjustment factors – which can help improve your selection rank when applying for a degree. Your location, school or personal circumstances may make you eligible too. Learn more about the full list of available adjustments.
Work and Life Experience
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
- Work experience - A Selection Rank can be calculated based on your work experience - you need to document all of your experience and provide supporting documentation
If you have a Selection Rank but it's not enough for this course
- Complete 2 non-award individual UG units; the results attained for these units can then be converted to a Selection Rank
- Complete a VET qualification such as an AQF Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma
- Commence another ACU Bachelor degree with a lower required Selection Rank, successfully complete 2 or more units, then apply for an internal transfer to this course. A new Selection Rank will be calculated from your results in the ACU units. Note - you may need to complete up to 8 units (equivalent to one year fulltime) and achieve more than a pass grade to gain entry to this course
Career paths
Graduates can pursue a range of careers in Australia and overseas as, medical dispatcher, medical/surgical nurse, paediatric nurse, paramedic, aged care nurse, community care nurse, clinical supervisor or clinical educator. With further study, qualified paramedics can become intensive-care paramedics (ICPs), team leaders or special operations team (SOT) rescue paramedics.
Professional experience
Clinical experience forms an integral part of the course. Students will undertake six units of nursing practice and three units of Paramedicine practice in a variety of health care environments.
Uniforms
Students representing ACU on any clinical placement outside of the University must wear an approved uniform. Details regarding uniform purchase is available via ACU's Work Integrated Learning site www.wil.acu.edu.au.
Nursing uniform
Students are required to purchase and wear an ACU student nurse uniform during clinical components of the course.
Paramedic uniform
Students are required to purchase the required paramedicine uniform including shirt and trousers, epaulettes, hard hat, baseball cap, belt (optional), black boots, wet weather jacket, fleece jacket and other personal protective equipment required. Students are also required to wear a wrist watch with a second hand whilst on clinical placement.
Details regarding uniform purchase is available via ACU's Work Integrated Learning site www.wil.acu.edu.au.
Professional recognition
Eligible graduates can apply for registration as a nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Please refer to the Registration Standards for Nursing and Midwifery on the AHPRA website.
As of 1 December 2018, Paramedicine has become a regulated profession under AHPRA.
ACU graduates of the Bachelor of Paramedicine and the Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Paramedicine are eligible for registration with AHPRA. AHPRA has a list of ACU’s graduates from 2015 onwards. Paramedics who graduated prior to 2015 will need to demonstrate that they are using their paramedic knowledge and skills in their current work. Some aspects of nursing would contribute to this body of evidence.
ACU’s Bachelor of Paramedicine and Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Paramedicine are both accredited by the Council of Ambulance Authorities Inc. The Council of Ambulance Authorities does not consider that the Bachelor of Paramedicine (Professional Entry) requires accreditation.
English language requirements
Applicants for Nursing courses should carefully review the details outlined in Schedule 3, Section 3b of the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy to check how they must demonstrate their English Language Proficiency.
** Please note that from 2020 this course requires all applicants to provide evidence of English Language Proficiency which is above the ACU minimum. More detail is available in ACU's Admission to Coursework Programs Policy, Schedule 3, Section 3b. **
Pathways to further study
An Honours year is available to meritorious students, with a grade point average of 5.75, who meet the admission requirements for the Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) or Bachelor of Paramedicine (Honours).
The Faculty of Health Sciences offers a suite of postgraduate coursework degrees in nursing and paramedicine. Nursing specialties include mental health nursing, clinical nursing, clinical education, health administration as well as leadership and management in health care.
More course information
Before you can begin placements for this course, you must meet mandatory State or Territory legal and industry policy requirements. Comprehensive information about these requirements and the submission process of relevant documentation can be found here www.wil.acu.edu.au
Contacts for future students
Enquiries:
- 1300 ASK ACU (1300 275 228)
- E-mail: askacu@acu.edu.au
