Nursing

CDU is ranked in the top 10 best nursing schools in Australia. Our graduate employment rate is >93% (2017 QILT). Hospitals and other health service providers are reliable employers and job security is excellent. There is a projected shortage of nurses and Nurse Practitioners in Australia and globally.

Bachelor of Nursing

The Bachelor of Nursing prepares students for the role of a Registered Nurse, to deliver the highest quality, patient-centred care to people of all ages in a variety of settings. Our programs qualify for ‘away from base’ funding for Indigenous students.

Inherent requirements for Nursing

Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit, while preserving the academic integrity of the university's learning, assessment and accreditation processes. The inherent requirements are the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to complete the course that must be met by all students.
Download: Inherent requirements for Nursing (PDF, 608.07 KB)

Clinical experiences

Clinical placements

Clinical placements are a vital part of the education process, giving students real-world experiences in hospitals, community and primary health care clinics, and aged care facilities. We aim to provide placements throughout Australia so that students can gain experience in their geographic area or area of special interest, such as Indigenous health or regional issues.

Because clinical placements occur in real-world clinical settings the College has implemented mandatory pre-clinical health and safety requirements.

Clinical Simulation blocks

Otherwise known as ‘sim blocks’, clinical simulation blocks are compulsory one-week study blocks held at our purpose-built simulation labs in Darwin, Alice Springs and Sydney. We are leaders in large-scale simulation. For 2020 CDU is working on gaining ANMAC accreditation for students to also access simulation labs in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth close to where they live and work. Our students train in real-time nursing shifts on a busy simulated ward with up to 12 different manikins, each with its own unique personality, range of health issues and idiosyncrasies.

Clinical simulation blocks allow students to learn and practice their clinical skills in a simulated environment prior to clinical placement. Our dedicated staff work with students during an intensive program to practice specified nursing interventions, integrate theory into practice and develop an understanding of the requirements of professional nursing practice according to the Registered Nurse Standards for Practice (NMBA, 2016).

Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)

There is high demand for Nurse Practitioners across Australia. Our re-developed Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) will be available in 2020. The course is weighted towards primary healthcare, whilst providing a generic preparedness to ensure that graduates have capability in many different clinical areas.

The Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) will be open to experienced RNs who have at least four years’ full time experience with a minimum of two years’ advanced practice. The course will be taught and delivered online, with only two intensive weeks (one in each year) offering a high degree of flexibility for each individual student.

Post-graduate programs

New post-graduate programs have been announced in response to alumni demand. Post-graduate qualifications improve job prospects and wages for nurses, and the level of health care available to our communities.  

In response to high demand for graduates in the Health sector, the College of Nursing & Midwifery has developed a range of postgraduate courses available to domestic students in 2020. These are:

• Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)
• Master of Midwifery
• Graduate Certificate of Maternal Critical Care
• Graduate Certificate of Clinical Facilitation
• Graduate Certificate of Health Services Management
• Graduate Diploma of Mental Health
• Graduate Diploma of Nursing
• Bachelor of Nursing (Honours)
• Bachelor of Midwifery (Honours)

In 2021, the College is proposing a Master of Clinical Nursing, as well as specialist qualifications in priority areas such as dementia, renal health and primary health care. We are working towards specialist pathways within our existing qualifications in areas such as perinatal mental health, child and youth mental health, as well as sub-bachelor offerings in regional areas to meet workforce demands.

Follow your passion

Pursue your passion for rural, remote, humanitarian or international nursing at CDU. We offer rural and remote placements in the Northern Territory and across Australia. If you have an interest in Indigenous health, you are in the right place. If your interest lies in the Asia Pacific region, we offer international study opportunities in Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong and China.

Interested in Midwifery?

The Bachelor of Midwifery Employed Model Program is an exciting initiative of the NT Health and CDU that offers registered nurses paid work in the NT while they study.

To apply for the program, you must:

• Be eligible for employment with NT Health and
• Meet CDU enrolment criteria.

The Bachelor of Midwifery Employed Model Program is a two-year program delivered online at a part-time study load (0.75 EFT study load, which is three units per semester) with paid employment offered through the Top End Health Service and the Central Australia Health Service on full-time or fixed part-time contacts.

Download the Bachelor of Midwifery Employed Model Information Pack.