Course overview
Students rank Avondale’s Bachelor of Nursing as number one in Australia for overall educational experience, learner engagement, skills development, student support and teaching quality (The Good Universities Guide 2025).
Students can choose to study at our Sydney Campus located on the grounds of the Sydney Adventist Hospital, or the Lake Macquarie Campus, and will:
- learn in state-of-the-art facilities and hospital ward-like simulation centres
- gain experience in primarily local and private hospitals such as the Sydney Adventist Hospital, Newcastle Private, Wyong Hospital and Gosford Public and Private Hospitals and
- learn in other healthcare settings.
On completion, students will be eligible to apply for registration as a registered nurse to provide high quality care to patients. There is significant demand for registered nurses in the health care system in public, private and community settings with employment opportunities in local, national, and international healthcare environments.
Course record
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities
Nursing in medical, surgical or critical care, maternal or paediatric health, mental health, gynaecological/women's health, international hospitals and communities, aged care and community health, perioperative/operating theatre, health related industries such as medical products and services, education, administration and management.
As a registered nurse, you will have the opportunity to diversify into other health areas and/or specialise in a particular area.
Other Information
Practical experience
Clinical placements commence in Semester two for full time first-year Bachelor of Nursing students, provided students complete the pre-requisite Level 1 units and meet pre-clinical requirements. All clinical placements are mandatory, with 100% attendance required. The content of each clinical unit is related to the areas being studied in corresponding theoretical units. Clinical placements are organised for students and provided in cooperation with the Sydney Adventist Hospital, and many other placements available in local and regional hospitals, specialist mental health facilities, paediatric units, and at aged care and community facilities.
Students are expected to attend clinical placements on rotating shifts (morning, afternoon, and night) and travel to and from placement sites. Most clinical placement sites are within Sydney, Central Coast and Hunter New England areas. In addition, students may have the opportunity to attend a rural or remote placement.
Clinical placements are of two to four weeks duration, with the course requiring the completion of a total of 800 hours of placement throughout the degree.
The following units include clinical placements:
- NURS11102 Nursing Practice 2 - 80 hours
- NURS22203 Nursing Practice 3 - 80 hours
- NURS22205 Nursing the Older Person - 80 hours
- NURS22207 Mental Health Nursing Practice - 80 hours
- NURS22204 Nursing Practice 4 - 80 hours
- NURS33303 Clinical Nursing Elective - 80 hours
- NURS33305 Nursing Practice 5 - 80 hours
- NURS33306 Nursing Practice 6 - 80 hours
- NURS33308 Transition to Professional Practice - 160 hours
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Nursing course is also accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
Fees and charges
Majors
Areas of study
Nursing.
Entry requirements
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Student profile
Campuses & intake dates
- Lake MacquarieNSW