Nursing
Our graduate employment rate is >94% (2020 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.
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.
EOI - Health Service Hosting CDU Nursing Students
During the nursing degree students undertake professional experience placement in diverse settings across metropolitan and rural/remote regions. To discuss the placement experiences and opportunities your health service can provide please complete the EOI form below.
Submit an expression of interest (PEP)
Preclinical requirements
Because clinical placements occur in real-world clinical settings the Faculty of Health has implemented mandatory pre-clinical health and safety requirements.
Remote placements (Northern Territory)
The Faculty of Health, in collaboration with the Northern Territory Top End Health Service has a number of selected remote placements. The intent of these placements is to offer a professional clinical experience to nursing students who may have an interest and aptitude for a career path in remote nursing practice.
Apply for a remote placement (NT)
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; in collaboration with our partner sites at Perth and Melbourne.
We are leaders in large-scale simulation. Our students train in real-time nursing shifts on a busy simulated ward with up to 12 different manakins, 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 a high demand for Nurse Practitioners across Australia. Our re-developed Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) has been offered since 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 with at least four years of full-time experience with a minimum of two years of advanced practice. The course will be taught and delivered online, with only two intensive weeks (one each year), offering a high degree of flexibility for each individual student.
Postgraduate programs
New postgraduate programs have been announced in response to alumni demand. Postgraduate 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 Faculty of Health has developed a range of postgraduate courses available to domestic students in 2020.
Explore our postgraduate courses
In 2021, the Faculty of Health proposed 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, and 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.