Australian Graduate Entry Nursing Courses

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Hi all,

I have just completed my first year of nursing in a graduate entry course in Qld. I've done all my theory, bar a research project, and I have a year of prac ahead of me, after which I will be a registered nurse. This is the first year the course has been run at my university and there are a lot of kinks to iron out, to say the least. I am considering transferring to the University of Sydney, but I found out today I may not get any credit because the courses are organized very differently. I'm thinking about cutting my losses and starting all over again as I feel woefully unprepared, and will have very little clinical supervision by the university during my second year - insane!!! Has anyone had any experience with graduate entry courses in Australia, or has anyone been so unhappy with the quality of teaching at their university that they transferred/left completely?

Many thanks.

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Every nurse, teacher, comes out feeling totally unprepared. sounds ok to me to have a year of clinical experience, you will have to be supervised somehow as you are not registered and it would be in the university's and health facility's best interest to have that supervision.

Do not cut your loses. Most of us feel unprepared and verrry nervous the first day of our grad year....those that don't and think they are prepared and know what to do all the time are dangerous.

I have not heard of this type of course before, but to get the theory and then prac you will find it all comes together in practise (or does not and is comlete bunkum and is not ever done in practise). STay put and good luck.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I haven't heard of this type of course either. The only advice I can give u is try to find a university that will transfer your credits for what u have done. U can try looking at hotcourses.com.au and that will give you a list of universities where u can get a lot of info re courses and transfer options.

The only thing I can tell u is don't go through Edith Cowan University here in Perth. They are extremely disorganised, don't get back to u when u email again & again and do not care about their students.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Ceridwyn, what you been up to?

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Just started my new job and find it a steep learning curve. It so different from nursing as I have known it for the past 20 years.

Have you finished your study yet Carol?

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Specializes in ..

University of Technology, Sydney has a two year grad entry B. Nursing, which is run on par with the undergraduate course, only condensed.

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Specializes in Medical.

Melbourne Uni also has a graduate entry program; one of my riends did it and was very happy - he did his grad year and a consolidation year on our ward and is now a CNS in WA. His clinical, critical and communication skills were excellent :)

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I think nearly every university has this graduate entry course now.

I just had not heard of doing all the theory at once and then doing prac. usually its combined. Always onwards and upwards after grad year for these trained nurses :lol2:

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

Zoeb-Not sure whether you're struggling with the course work or the practical side of nursing. It sounds like you've done most of the coursework. I strongly recommend that you work as an AIN during your final year. You'll be working closely with RN's, so you will be able to observe them in their practice and be able to ask questions. I did this in my 3rd and final year and the experience really helped me after I was registered. My year as an AIN gave me more insight into nursing than the university could offer.

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