Diploma of Nursing - HLT54115

RMIT provides a blended learning environment that includes face-to-face classes, practical lab sessions, and clinical placement, with some online delivery.

You’ll benefit from a technology-enhanced learning experience using simulation laboratories and a new web-based simulation experience. This combined with a minimum of 400 hours of work placement ensures that you will graduate work ready.

With supervised clinical placements, you'll reinforce the theory and skills learned in class while gaining real-world experience in a healthcare environment.

You will complete a minimum of 400 hours of clinical placement (equivalent of up to 12 weeks).

While undertaking the Diploma of Nursing, students generally attend classes four days per week.

During your first year, you will complete two two-week full-time blocks of clinical placement. In second year, you will complete three two-week blocks.

During your placement, you can expect to work either morning shifts that start at 7am, or afternoon shifts which finish at 10pm, from Monday to Friday. Students should also expect some placements to be in regional Victoria.

Year 1

Your first year of studies will cover:

• basic anatomy and physiology
• wound management
• training in cultural diversity and coping with challenging behaviour
• infection control
• legal and ethical parameters of nursing
• patient assessment.

You will also do five to six weeks of clinical placement.

Year 2

In your second year you will:

• develop analytical skills as you learn to care for patients with acute and chronic conditions
• be introduced to medication and intravenous administration
• learn how to implement nursing care plans and to evaluate the care provided
• complete four to five weeks of clinical placement.

RMIT and Epworth have partnered to offer students accepted into the C5365EPW stream the opportunity to undertake an intensive version of the qualification delivered over 18 months with professional placement within Epworth Hospital facilities while studying.

Students of this accelerated, hands-on stream will be provided with a blended learning experience, including practical placement, face-to-face and online study, as well as self-directed learning. Within a supervised work placement over 18 months, students will reinforce the theory and skills learned through RMIT while gaining real-world experience in a healthcare environment.

In this challenging stream, you will undertake a total of 600 hours of clinical placements predominantly within Epworth Healthcare facilities. This is an additional 200 hours than required by the other streams in this diploma.

The initial placement will be with aged care providers located across Victoria, potentially including rural locations. Placements 2, 3, 4 and 5 will be at Epworth Healthcare facilities around inner Melbourne. 

In your first semester, you will complete 11 subjects, plus a clinical placement of 120 hours.

In your second semester, you will complete 9 subjects, and two 80-hour clinical placements.

In your third semester, you will complete 5 subjects and two 160-hour clinical placements. 

Upon completion of this diploma, students of this stream are guaranteed an interview for an ongoing professional role with Epworth Healthcare.

Find out more about the RMIT Epworth Healthcare partnership.

The Diploma of Nursing is nationally accredited.

After graduating, you will meet the academic requirements to apply to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) for registration as an Enrolled Nurse. The registration requirements are set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and in addition to the academic requirements, include other registration standards. For further details, refer to the NMBA website. 

AHPRA is governed by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). AHPRA registration enables graduates to practise anywhere in Australia.

By understanding the types of activities you’ll participate in, you can:

• understand more about the program
• determine if you may need support during your studies
• make an informed decision about whether the program is suitable for you

If you are living with disability, long-term illness and/or a mental health condition, we can support you by making adjustments to activities in your program so that you can participate fully in your studies.

To receive learning adjustments, you need to register with Equitable Learning Service

The University considers the wellbeing and safety of all students, staff and the community to be a priority in academic and professional experience placement settings.

Please note that RMIT University will register students with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and notify the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) if a student undertaking clinical training has an impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

Students who are successful in obtaining a place in the program must meet a number of Immunisation and Compliance requirements upon commencement of their studies in the program.

Immunisations and vaccination requirements:

• Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (dTpa – Adult Dose).  Must be this immunisation NOT ADT (Adult Diphtheria/Tetanus – does not contain the pertussis component).
• Poliomyelitis: Primary course of 3 vaccination doses.
• Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR, 2 vaccination doses AND blood test (serology report) to confirm immunity.
• Hepatitis A:  Primary course of 2 vaccination doses OR serology to show immunity to Hep A Ab.
• Hepatitis B:  Primary course of 3 vaccination doses AND serology to confirm anti-HBV level is greater than or equal to 10mIU/ml.   
• Varicella: 2 vaccination doses OR blood test (serology report) to confirm immunity OR history of chickenpox
• Influenza Vaccination:  Annual requirement.
• Tuberculin Screen:  Tuberculin Skin Test OR Quantiferon TB Assay blood test (serology) to show immunity.

PLEASE NOTE:  A full course of immunisations can take up to 7 months to complete and students should contact their Medical Practitioner prior to entering the program to commence immunisations.  It is a requirement that students will have commenced all immunisations and will continue to progress this until completion of the vaccination courses by the deadlines set by the University. 

Compliance Requirements:

• Police Check: Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check with no disclosable outcomes for professional placements as part of this program. National Police records check are conducted via fit2work.
  An account with fit2work will be created using the student’s name and the RMIT issued student email address, once studies in the program have commenced. Further information will be provided once enrolment has been completed.
• Working with Children Check (valid for 5 years): Students must hold a valid Working with Children Check prior to undertaking the clinical components of this program.
• Age: All students must be 18 years of age prior to commencing their placements. For students starting studies in Semester 1, they must be 18 years of age before March of the same year. For students starting studies in Semester 2, they must be 18 years of age before August of the same year.
• Immunisation and vaccination requirements:
  • Influenza Vaccination: annual requirement
  • Covid-19 Vaccination: annual requirement