Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery

2020 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2020 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current.
Year

2020 course information

Award granted

Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery

Course Map

These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2020:

Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.

CampusOffered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Warrnambool
Cloud CampusNo
Duration

4 years full time (This course is only available full time)

CRICOS course code057656M Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Warrnambool
Deakin course codeD355
Approval statusThis course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Midwives play an invaluable role in facilitating childbirth and caring for mothers and babies throughout pregnancy, labour and beyond. With Deakin’s combined Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery, you’ll graduate ready to gain registration as both a nurse and a midwife, opening the door to a truly rewarding and diverse career. Deakin graduates are highly sought-after for their ability to provide quality person-centred, evidence-based care, focused towards improving client outcomes.

Throughout this four-year course you will engage in experiential learning in our purpose-built Clinical Simulation Centres, along with our extensive clinical placement program. Involving over 40 weeks of real-world experience, clinical placements enable you to develop skills in a range of areas and settings, including hospitals and community health centres in metropolitan, rural and regional areas.

Aspiring to enter the health care sector with the confidence to succeed as both a nurse and a midwife?

Gain a valuable mix of hands-on clinical practice and theory with a nursing and midwifery school that’s ranked in the top 1% of universities globally.* As one of the most research-active schools in Australia, our School of Nursing and Midwifery boasts some of the best facilities and resources available. Equipment and facilities include:

  • cardiac monitoring devices
  • disposable dressing packs
  • high-fidelity human-patient simulators
  • resuscitation trolleys
  • wall oxygen and suction.

Plus, our clinical placement program gives you the opportunity to develop skills in a range of areas, such as:

  • maternity care, including antenatal, birthing and post-natal
  • neonatal care
  • Paediatrics
  • acute/sub-acute care
  • medical and surgical care
  • aged care
  • Rehabilitation
  • community nursing
  • mental health nursing.

You will be provided with the tools necessary to obtain the knowledge, skills and ethical behaviours appropriate for contemporary nursing and midwifery practice in health care. You’ll also gain real-world experience by spending approximately half of your degree on clinical placement in various healthcare settings.

With help from our industry leading academics, you’ll develop the ability to bring your practical knowledge to life when you begin your nursing practice. These competencies will ensure you achieve the standards expected of registered nurses and registered midwives in a variety of contexts.

As a nurse and midwife, you’ll be part of the largest health professional group in the world. This means your skills will be in-demand, both in Australia and overseas.

*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This may include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time. Clinical practicums may take place outside of trimester dates. All expenses associated with clinical placements are your responsibility.

Professional recognition

On successful completion of your course, you will be eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse and as a Registered Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

Notes:

The NMBA has registration requirements that must be met in order to register. Course completion is one of these requirements.

This course is currently accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and is an NMBA approved course at the date of publishing.

Career opportunities

Nursing and midwifery is a career rich with opportunity. As a Deakin graduate, you will be highly sought-after for the many transferable skills you will obtain, such as:

  • nursing and midwifery skills
  • health sector knowledge
  • critical thinking and problem solving
  • communication
You will enter the world of nursing and midwifery with the ability to provide high-quality, person-centred and evidence-based care focused on improving patient outcomes.

As a registered nurse and registered midwife, you can pursue a global career in a range of work settings, such as:

  • maternity services
  • acute care/sub-acute care
  • emergency
  • paediatrics
  • neonatal care
  • rehabilitation
  • community health centres
  • hospitals
  • homes
  • hospices
  • aged care settings
  • clinics
  • schools
  • universities
  • government agencies and private industries.

Nursing and midwifery are diverse professions with a number of specialty areas available. We encourage you to look at continuing professional development throughout your career; this may include postgraduate degrees and/or research degrees, including masters and PhDs

Participation requirements

The course involves compulsory clinical placement totalling 41 weeks. The midwifery component consists of 21 weeks in midwifery settings across Victoria. The nursing component consists of 20 weeks in hospitals and community health centres in metropolitan, rural and regional areas.

These placements may require travel to rural areas. Placement may occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks listed here.

Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

Mandatory student checks

Department of Human Services policy - Police Record Check and Working With Children Check

In accordance with Department of Human Services policy, all students are required to undertake a National Police Record Check prior to clinical placements in each calendar year of their course.

In accordance with the Department of Justice 2007, Working with Children Act 2005, amended 2017, all students are required to undertake a Working with Children Check at the commencement of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check and a Working with Children Check prior to the commencement of clinical placement will not be able to undertake clinical placement and this will impede progress in the course.

Students are also required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health organisations where they will be undertaking their clinical learning experience. A health organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if the student’s immunisation status is not satisfactory to the health organisation.

Inherent requirements

Essential knowledge, skills and capabilities are required to undertake and successfully complete the undergraduate nursing and midwifery courses and to practice safely as a registered nurse and/or midwife. The inherent requirements of the course are listed at School of Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate Courses: Inherent Requirements

Pathways

This course provides a pathway to higher degree by research courses and other postgraduate coursework programs.

Alternate exits

Bachelor of Nursing (H326)

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

Discipline Specific knowledge and capabilities

Apply specialised knowledge, evidence-based practice, research and scholarly activity to provide woman-centred midwifery care;

Practice in a competent and professional manner to design, implement and evaluate midwifery care based on safety and quality principles that optimize maternal and foetal/infant well-being.

Communication

Communicate effectively and respectfully with women, their families and other health care team members using clear and appropriate language and communication modes;

Use well developed communication skills to facilitate a woman’s informed decision making and to identify issues that may impact upon maternal and foetal/infant wellbeing.

Digital Literacy

Critically evaluate information located and accessed from digital technologies to inform midwifery practice and support continuing professional development;

Critical thinking

Critically evaluate information located and accessed from digital technologies to inform midwifery practice and support continuing professional development.

Problem Solving

Demonstrate problem solving skills using critical thinking, decision making and reflection in the design, implementation and evaluation of safe and quality woman-centred midwifery care.

Self-management

Promote and demonstrate professional competence through critical reflection, accountability and feedback while engaging in lifelong learning.

Teamwork

Demonstrate effective collaboration, responsible and accountable practice as a midwifery and multidisciplinary team member in the provision of safe and quality maternity care.

Global Citizenship

Apply ethical and culturally safe decision making in the provision of woman-centred care, including social, economic and ecologically sustainable considerations respectful of the diverse needs within the Australian community.

 

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery students must attain 32 credit points. Units (think of units as 'subjects') may be worth 1 or 2 credit points - check each unit for its credit point value by clicking on the unit in the course structure below. Most students choose to study 4 credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters each year. All units in this course are core units and are compulsory.

The course consists of 32 credit points of study which includes the following:

  • 21 credit points are core units in the Bachelor of Nursing
  • 11 credit points are specific to midwifery.

The course aims to provide graduates with a blend of knowledge, skill, and ethical behaviours appropriate to the professions of both nursing and midwifery.

There is an expectation that you will be available to undertake clinical placement outside of trimester dates. All expenses associated with clinical placements are your responsibility.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete HAI010 Academic Integrity in their first trimester of study (0 credit point compulsory unit).

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. Click here for more information.

Course structure

Units

Course structure for students who commenced in 2015 onwards. Students who commenced prior to 2015 should refer to previous online Handbooks and consult your course enrolment officer.

Level 1 - Trimester 1

HAI010Academic Integrity (0 credit points)

HBS109Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

HNM101Partnerships in Midwifery Care 1

HNN112Quality and Safety: Nursing Practice 1

HNN120Quality and Safety in Health Care

Level 1 - Trimester 2

HNM102Partnerships in Midwifery Care 2

HNN114Health Assessment

HNN122Quality and Safety: Nursing Practice 2

Level 2 - Trimester 1

HNM201Partnerships in Midwifery Care 3

HNN215Quality Use of Medicines

HNN227Quality and Safety: Nursing Practice 3

Level 2 - Trimester 2

HBS107Understanding Health (Trimester 1 at Level 3 at Waterfront (Geelong) and Warrnambool)

HNM202Collaboration in Midwifery Care

HNN222Mental Health and Illness

Level 3 - Trimester 1

HNM323Challenges in Infant Care

HNN217Community Nursing Practice (Trimester 2 at Level 2 at Waterfront (Geelong) and Warrnambool)

HNN318The Older Person and Supportive Care

HNN319Chronic Illness and Supportive Care

Level 3 - Trimester 2

HNM310Midwifery Practice 1

HNN108Understanding Research Evidence

HNN300Child and Adolescent Health

Level 4 - Trimester 1

HNM311Midwifery Practice 2

HNM313Complexities in Midwifery Care

HNN320Leadership and Clinical Governance

Level 4 - Trimester 2

HNM314Primary Midwifery Practice

HNN301Mental Health Promotion

HNN325Comprehensive Nursing Practice

Work experience

Clinical practice

Beginning soon after commencement of the course, early exposure to the clinical environment gives you extensive opportunities to develop clinical skills in a variety of settings including acute/sub-acute care, medical and surgical care, paediatrics, aged care, rehabilitation, community nursing and mental health nursing. Midwifery clinical experiences includes all areas of midwifery practice, including pregnancy care, labour and birth, postnatal care and neonatal care. These may be undertaken in hospitals and community health care centres in metropolitan, rural and regional areas.

There is an expectation that you will be available to undertake clinical practicum outside of trimester dates. All expenses associated with clinical placements are your own responsibility.


Course duration - additional information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing clinical placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Third party arrangements

Student Placement Agreements exist between Deakin University, SoNM and Clinical Placement Providers and are generally revised every 3-5 years.

Quality assurance arrangements

Deakin, SoNM provides training through facilitator and preceptorship workshops. Unit Chairs provide regular clinical support to facilitators whilst students are on placements.

Other learning experiences

The BN has 3 elective units which may be undertaken from any faculty as long as pre requisite requirements are met.

The School offers nursing elective units e.g HNN216 International Nursing Study Tour x 3. (Thailand, Bhutan, Philippines).