Bachelor of Nursing (Honours)

2017 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2017 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2017 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Nursing (Honours)
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from 2017. If you require a course map from a previous year, please contact a Student Adviser.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Warrnambool
Cloud Campus	No
Duration	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	006227K Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Warrnambool
Deakin course code	H421
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Quality Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Focusing on research, the honours year builds on the foundations established in your undergraduate degree. You will study a particular topic of personal interest in greater depth and create pathways to specialisations and further research or study. The Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) is a specialised year of study taken after the completion of a Bachelor of Nursing or combined degrees.

For entry into senior nursing and midwifery roles there’s now an increasing industry expectation for graduates with high-level research and evaluation skills. Honours offers you a competitive edge in the job market and is designed to provide you with the knowledge and research skills to undertake a postgraduate research degree, advanced professional training or to pursue diverse employment opportunities.

The School of Nursing and Midwifery offers research in areas influencing quality and patient safety in health care. These include: clinical risk and symptom management, chronic disease management, effective health delivery, health care ethics, decision making, aged care, midwifery and translational research.

Throughout this course you will gain a deep understanding of the philosophies, ethics and principles of research; knowledge of a range of research approaches; skills in data management, methods and tools for research practice; and skills in planning, implementing and reporting research studies.

This course will give you an understanding of how to develop a research proposal, from the identification of a research issue and literature review through to writing and submitting the proposal for approval by an ethics committee. You will undertake a research project and an individual research thesis in the area of nursing practice and develop evaluation and research skills in nursing practice and health service delivery.

You will be qualified for rewarding roles in all areas of nursing including acute care/sub-acute care, emergency, aged care, paediatrics and rehabilitation; in hospitals, government departments, district health services, the education sector, business and private industry. Alternatively, you may decide to undertake a research degree such as a research Masters or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Indicative student workload

You should be able to commit 35 hours a week to your honours degree

Honours

For detailed information, particularly with respect to the selection of areas of study and availability of appropriate supervision, students should consult the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

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

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 cognitive and technical skills combined with a systematic and coherent body of knowledge to develop a conceptual framework for research inquiry, select the appropriate methodology and procedures for the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; and disseminate research findings.
Communication	Autonomously communicate research outcomes to the professional community, defend and discuss all elements of the research project in the chosen field of study via oral and written means to academics, specialists and others.
Digital Literacy	Autonomously undertake research, comprehend and evaluate new information, concepts and evidence to locate, select and collect appropriate technologies to source, interpret, adapt, collate, analyse and disseminate relevant information to an academic audience and specialists.
Critical thinking	Critically and constructively, evaluate, critique and synthesise the literature in the chosen field of study; select and apply appropriate methodological principles suitable for the research project; select and apply appropriate analytical techniques to test the hypothesis; and interpret, compare and contrast study findings to the wider literature in the chosen field of study.
Problem Solving	Contribute to advancement of knowledge in the field of health care policy and delivery by identifying a suitable and novel research question based on the literature that can be completed within the given timeframe; conducting the research to address the question in an appropriate, realistic and ethical manner.
Self-management	Identify own learning needs and seek additional knowledge and/or information as required to produce a realistic timeline for the research project that incorporates preparing a literature review, obtaining ethical approval (if applicable), sourcing and/or collecting and analysing data, and disseminating research findings.
Teamwork	Collaborate effectively as a member of a research and professional team of specialists, peers, academics and others from a range of disciplines and backgrounds.
Global Citizenship	Apply ethical standards governing research and professional practice in the discipline whilst maintaining confidentiality, and respecting inclusive, cultural sensitivities.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) students must attain 8 credit points, including two coursework units in research methods and research planning and two units comprising an independent research project.

Course structure

Core units

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