Diploma of Nursing
Student type:
Quick facts
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Entry score
Not applicable
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Duration
Full-time 2 years -
Location
Melbourne city, Bundoora -
Fees
Next intake
February, July Entry score
IELTS 7.0
Duration
Full-time 2 years Location
Melbourne city, Bundoora Fees
AU$18,000 (2019 annual)
Next intake
February, July
Overview
Your career in nursing
There is a high demand for enrolled nurses and job expectations are strong. Enrolled nurses help to provide acute, preventive, curative and rehabilitative care, under the direction of a registered nurse.
How you will learn in this program
You’ll benefit from a technology-enhanced learning experience using simulation laboratories and a new web-based simulation experience that can be accessed online at any time. The simulation experience combined with a minimum of 400 hours of work placement ensures that you will graduate work-ready.
Details
Develop the skills to work as an enrolled nurse. You’ll graduate with the skills to provide acute, preventive, curative and rehabilitative care, under the direction of a registered nurse.
As part of your studies, you’ll learn to work with patients of all ages in different environments. There is a focus on aged care, community and mental health.
You’ll also learn how to administer intravenous and other medications and gain skills in acute care which involves medical/surgical nursing skills.
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 that can be accessed online at any time.
The simulation experience 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 to up to 12 weeks).
Year 1
Your first year of studies will cover:
- basic anatomy and physiology
- wound management, including dressing application and wound care
- training in cultural diversity and how to cope with challenging behaviour
- infection control
- legal and ethical parameters of nursing
Patient assessment is taught in clinical skills laboratories using simulated mannequins. You'll also do five to six weeks of clinical placement.
Year 2
In your second year you will:
- develop your analytical skills as you learn to help care for patients with acute and chronic conditions
- be introduced to medication and intravenous administration
- learn how to implement nursing care plans and how to evaluate the care provided
You'll also complete four to five weeks of clinical placement.
Choose a program structure
Choose a program structure
Program code: C5365
National curriculum code: HLT54115
Career
Enrolled nurses help to provide acute, preventive, curative and rehabilitative care, under the direction of a registered nurse.
Graduates can work in:
- acute (hospital) care
- medical centres
- mental health
- rehabilitation
- palliative care
- aged care settings
The Diploma of Nursing is nationally accredited.
After graduating, you may apply to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) for registration as an Enrolled Nurse.
AHPRA is governed by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). AHPRA registration enables graduates to practise anywhere in Australia.
Admissions
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 or an equivalent.
If you have not completed Year 12 (or equivalent), you are required to sit a Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) Multiple Choice.
Applicants who wish to supplement their academic record may choose to sit the STAT Multiple Choice.
STAT Multiple Choice applicants must meet the VTAC eligibility requirements.
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school qualification) with a minimum 50% average (check calculator below).
Equivalent qualifications may also include completion of the RMIT Foundation Studies program or a recognised post-secondary diploma in the relevant discipline with the required grades.
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee entry. Your application will still need to be assessed and accepted.
Entry requirements
Form: Non-Year 12 applicants may submit additional information if they would like it to be considered.
- For semester 1 intake, this can be completed through the VTAC Personal Statement online.
- For semester 2 intake, this can be completed through the personal statement in the Apply Direct application.
Working With Children Check: Students must hold a valid Working With Children Check prior to undertaking the clinical components of this program.
Police check: Students must present evidence of a successful National Police Records Check prior to undertaking the clinical components of this program.
Immunisation Policy: Students must be adequately vaccinated prior to undertaking the clinical components of this program.
All applicants must provide evidence of one of the following:
- Successful completion of at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed in English in Australia or in any one of the recognised countries*, including at least two years between years 7 and 12.
OR - Completion of at least 3 years (full time equivalent) of a combination of secondary and vocational and/or tertiary education taught and assessed in English, in Australia or in any one of the recognised countries*.
OR - Demonstrated achievement of the required minimum scores in one of the following formal English language tests and meeting the requirements for test results:
- IELTS (academic module): Minimum overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking)
- OET: Minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking)
- PTE Academic: Minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
- TOEFL Internet based test (iBT): Minimum total score of 94 and a minimum score in each section of the test:
- 24 for listening
- 24 for reading
- 27 for writing
- 23 for speaking
The above test results will be accepted from one sitting only. Test results will also be accepted from a maximum of 2 sittings in six months however additional requirements apply.
*Recognised countries include Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States of America, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
All applicants must provide evidence of one of the following:
- Successful completion of at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed in English in Australia or in any one of the recognised countries*, including at least two years between years 7 and 12.
OR - Completion of at least 3 years (full time equivalent) of a combination of secondary and vocational and/or tertiary education taught and assessed in English, in Australia or in any one of the recognised countries*.
OR - Demonstrated achievement of the required minimum scores in one of the following formal English language tests and meeting the requirements for test results:
- IELTS (academic module): Minimum overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking)
- OET: Minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking)
- PTE Academic: Minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
- TOEFL Internet based test (iBT): Minimum total score of 94 and a minimum score in each section of the test:
- 24 for listening
- 24 for reading
- 27 for writing
- 23 for speaking
The above test results will be accepted from one sitting only. Test results will also be accepted from a maximum of 2 sittings in six months however additional requirements apply.
*Recognised countries include Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States of America, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
The following information outlines the tasks you will be required to undertake during professional experience placement and on-campus learning activities.
The non-academic abilities listed are provided for your information only and are not entry requirements.
If there are any activities outlined which may be difficult for you to undertake, there are a range of adjustments to your study conditions available to enable and support you to demonstrate these abilities. Please contact the Equitable Learning Service to discuss any adjustments you may require.
The following information outlines the tasks you will be required to undertake during professional experience placement and on-campus learning activities.
The non-academic abilities listed are provided for your information only and are not entry requirements.
If there are any activities outlined which may be difficult for you to undertake, there are a range of adjustments to your study conditions available to enable and support you to demonstrate these abilities. Please contact the Equitable Learning Service to discuss any adjustments you may require.
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.
Pathways
Graduates of the Australian-accredited Diploma of Nursing may seek credit of up to one year (equivalent of 96 credit points) into the RMIT Bachelor of Nursing.
Graduates completing their program more than twelve months prior to their application but less than 10 years will also require registration as an Enrolled Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
When you successfully complete the Diploma of Nursing you are guaranteed entry in the Bachelor of Nursing with 2 semesters of advanced standing (equivalent to 96 credit points).
If you have completed the Diploma of Nursing more than 12 months but less than 10 years prior to your Bachelor of Nursing application, you must be registered as an enrolled Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and provide of evidence of this in order to qualify for selection and receive full credit.
Alternatively you may be eligible for entry into other RMIT honours or postgraduate programs.
Fees
The Victorian State Government has announced that from January 2019, that they will waive the tuition fee of 30 priority courses and 18 pre-apprenticeship courses at TAFE institutes, which includes this program.
This fee waiver will only be available for eligible students who will commence one of these qualifications in 2019.
Visit Free TAFE for priority courses for further information on what this means and whether it may affect you.
If you have any questions you can contact our Info Corner team.
The tuition fees you will pay for this program will depend on whether you are offered a Victorian Government subsidised place or a full-fee place.
To find out if you are eligible for a government subsidised place, follow the steps at ‘How to check if you are eligible’.
- 2019 government subsidised place: AU$8,250* per annum
- 2019 full-fee place: AU$16,000* per annum
*Fees shown are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at the time of enrolment.
The student tuition fees as displayed by the fee finder are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide. Learn more about fees for vocational study.
VET Student Loans
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the VET Student Loans scheme (VSL), which allows eligible students in eligible programs to defer payment of their tuition fees, up to the maximum loan amount for their program.
How does a VET Student Loan work?
If your VSL application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT your tuition fees on your behalf, up to the maximum loan amount for your program.
If your program is eligible for the VSL scheme and has a loan cap that doesn’t cover the total amount of the tuition fees for your program, then you’ll need to pay RMIT the difference once you exceed the cap.
Your VET Student Loan becomes part of your Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt. You will start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is adjusted each year (this also applies if you are still studying).
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information see VET Student Loans or Study Assist.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2019 is $303.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The annual tuition fee for 2019 is AU$18,000.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2019 commencement is AU$36,000.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.