Discover your calling as an enrolled nurse.
Embrace your caring nature in a rewarding career where no two days are ever the same.
The Diploma of Nursing provides you with the skills to assist in the provision of preventative, curative and rehabilitative nursing. Upon successful completion, you are eligible to be registered as an enrolled nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
Throughout this course, you will learn about anatomy and physiology, infection control, nursing care, nutritional and mental health care, health issues with a focus on Indigenous Australians, as well as the legal and ethical parameters of nursing.
For more information, please read the Diploma of Nursing Booklet. (503 KB) (Word document)
This program of study is not yet accredited by ANMAC or approved by the NMBA and will not lead to registration as a nurse or midwife in Australia under the approved qualification pathway, National Law Section 53a.
This program of study is expected to be accredited by early 2024, prior to Stage 1 orientation week commencing on April 15, 2024.
No student will be enrolled prior to NR TAFE receiving accreditation from ANMAC.
Please be aware that COVID-19 vaccination may be an employment requirement for some healthcare providers. NR TAFE students undertaking work placements or who are required to attend a healthcare or community setting as part of their studies are advised to check directly with the healthcare provider regarding their policy settings around vaccination and proof of vaccination requirements.
Please note, the nursing program is only offered full time and by blended delivery.
Throughout this course, you will gain skills in:
- Communication
- Health and safety in hospitals and aged care facilities
- Clinical assessment and nursing care
- Cultural safety and professional practice
- Applying legislation and ethical behaviour
- Aged care
- Infection control
- First aid
- Wound management
- Medicine administration and intravenous therapy
- Caring for acute and chronic health conditions
- Diabetes treatment and care
- End of life and palliative nursing practices
- Stress management
- Researching best practice
- Planning
This course is delivered in stages 1 to 3 over three semesters and a period of 18 months. Each semester may be 19 to 22 weeks long and consists of approx. 30 hours of study and training per week. You will study via consolidated teaching, face-to-face simulation weeks, clinical work placements, prescribed online activities and self-directed study.
Consolidated teaching: You will complete two 5-hour consolidated teaching sessions (tutorials) over 10 weeks throughout each of the three semesters. This will take place in an interactive classroom setting. Students may attend the tutorials online or face to face.
Simulation weeks: You will complete two face to face simulation weeks at Pundulmurra campus each semester, where you will integrate the theory component of your learning with the application of clinical skills.
Clinical work placement: You will undertake a minimum of unpaid 400 clinical work placement hours with NRTAFE clinical placement agencies located all over WA. Placements are full time and are scheduled for 1 to 3 weeks at a time. You are required to carry out shift work which is a combination of morning, afternoon and night shifts, including weekends and public holidays.
Prescribed online activities: You will complete weekly online activities, assessments and modules.
Self-directed study: You will complete a minimum of 20 hours of unsupervised study per week.
Our Pundulmurra campus in South Hedland is home to the state-of-the-art Health and Community Services Training Centre. This facility encompasses a simulation wing incorporating an eight-bed hospital ward, nurse’s station, patient examination and treatment rooms, pan room, fit testing room, training classrooms and a viewing area for lecturer observation.
Please note that as a student, you will also have additional costs associated with your study when enrolling in the Diploma of Nursing:
- You will need to purchase textbooks, uniform (Scrub Top and Pants) and closed in slip resistant shoes. Details of these will be provided during orientation week
- You will be required to complete a health check
- You will be required to provide evidence of vaccinations – 3 course of COVID-19 (unless medically contraindicated), Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella and Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
- Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Screening Test, Mantoux test or QuantiFERON-TB Gold serology (if required)
- Working with Children Check (WWC)
- National Police Certificate - through WA Police website only
- WA Health Department Criminal History Record Check (no cost if applied for post Police Certificate)
- NDIS Worker Screening Check via NRTAFE
Employer Id: 4-IW47CVV
Employer name: North Regional TAFE
You will also be required to:
- Travel to NRTAFE Pundulmurra Campus to attend simulation training and nursing calculation exams
- Travel to NRAFE clinical placement agencies to complete 400 hours of clinical placement.
- Attend clinical placement across a seven (7) day week, which may include weekends and public holidays.
- Carry out shift work including a combination of morning, afternoon and night shifts.
To protect the public from harm, registered health practitioners and education providers must report concerns about registered students. This is a legal requirement. Practitioners and education providers only need to notify Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) when they have a 'reasonable belief' that a student has an impairment that, when undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) Enrolled Nurse Accreditation Standards 2017 also require Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) delivering HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing to notify AHPRA of any student undertaking clinical training who has been identified as having an impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm.
AHPRA will be advised of the names of all students undertaking the Diploma of Nursing.
Upon completion of the course and a minimum of 400 hours of work placement, graduates will need to seek registration with AHPRA to work as an enrolled nurse, or to enrol in further study to become a registered nurse. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) has developed core registration standards that define the requirements that applicants, registrants or students.
NMBA states that with the exception of registered students and non-practising registrants, these standards apply to applicants for registration and currently registered nurses and midwives.
- Criminal history registration standard
- English languages skills registration standard
- Registration standard: continuing professional development
- Registration standard: recency of practice
- Registration standard: professional indemnity insurance arrangements
This course remains FEE FREE in 2024! The course fees are 100 per cent subsidised by the WA State Government for WA residents.
Some eligibility conditions apply for the free training, and other fees may apply for some courses. Please see the FAQs on our Skills Ready page for further information.
Student residing in the North West are eligible to receive a stipend from the state government to assist with the cost of clinical placement. Further information will be provided during the Stage 1 orientation week.
This course remains FEE FREE in 2024! The course fees are 100 per cent subsidised by the WA State Government for WA residents.
Some eligibility conditions apply for the free training, and other fees may apply for some courses. Please see the FAQs on our Skills Ready page for further information.
Not all units and study modes are offered at all campuses. Please check with your local campus.
Mature-age students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and people from all culture and background are encouraged to apply, subject to meeting the entry requirements below.
To gain entry into the Diploma of Nursing, there are two different requirements that need to be met.
1. Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) entry requirements
All applicants must be able to demonstrate that they meet the minimum Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) entry requirements, demonstrating achievement of an Australian Core Skills Framework Exit Level 3.
- School leavers must show evidence of completion of WACE (Western Australian Certificate of Education) General or ATAR with a minimum of C grade or equivalent in both English and Mathematics.
- Mature Age Applicants applicants or non-school leavers must show evidence of completion of minimum Certificate 3 course (AQF 3).
All applicants must complete the LLN Robot. The LLN Robot is an interactive on-line tool designed to identify and measure an individual's foundation skill level. Participants who undertake this assessment must have an exit level three (3) against the Australian Core Skills Framework. This means that in order to pass the LLN test, you need to get a minimum score of three (3) in each of the five LLN Robot components:
- Learning
- Reading
- Writing
- Oral Communication
- Numeracy
An online testing day and time will be organised through North Regional TAFE for you to undertake this test.
All applicants will be contacted regarding provision of a login and password for this test.
2. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) English language competency
Applicants must also provide evidence that they have met the minimum English Language Competency set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), prior to commencing in the Diploma of Nursing.
What do I need to do?
You need to have met one of the following criteria:
1. At admission to the program the applicant has English as their primary language and can demonstrate they have attended and satisfactory completed at least six years of primary and secondary education (at least two years must be between years 7 to 12) taught and assessed in English in one of the recognised English speaking countries that meet the NMBA requirements.
These countries are: New Zealand, The United States of America, The United Kingdom, Canada (excluding French Canadian territories), The Republic of Ireland and South Africa.
OR
2. At the time of applying to study in the Diploma of Nursing the applicant who does not have English as their primary language must be able to demonstrate minimum scores in one of the following English Language Tests:
- IELTS International English Language Testing System (academic module) with a minimum overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
- OET Occupational English Test with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
- PTE Academic Pearson test of English academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
- TOEFL iBT Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test:
- 24 for listening
- 24 for reading
- 27 for writing, and
- 23 for speaking
In addition, the following English language tests are being accepted by National Boards for applicants for registration who need to use the test pathway to meet the English language skills registration standard requirements:
- OET paper or computer-based test (OET CBT) at a testing venue
- IELTS (Academic module) paper or computer test in a testing venue including IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR)
- TOEFL iBT test (computer at testing centre)
- PTE Academic (computer at testing centre)
Please note that the National Boards no longer accept remote proctored tests for registration purposes.
Please refer to below link for further details regarding NMBA English Language Competency
https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills.aspx
You must complete a minimum of 400 clinical work placement hours as part of this course. Placements will be completed at NRTAFE clinical placement agencies located all over WA. Placements are full time and are scheduled for 2 to 3 weeks at a time. During your clinical placement, you will observe, develop and put your theoretical skills into practice while working with a workplace supervisor (buddy/preceptor). You will also be allocated to a clinical facilitator.
Clinical Placement Breakdown:
- Stage 1
- Aged Care (2 weeks)
- Stage 2:
- Primary Health Care (1 week)
- Surgical (2 weeks)
- Stage 3
- Mental Health (2 weeks)
- Medical (3 weeks)
Stage 1
| National ID | Unit title |
|---|
| CHCDIV002 | Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety |
| CHCPRP003 | Reflect on and improve own professional practice |
| HLTAAP002 | Confirm physical health status |
| HLTENN036 | Apply communication skills in nursing practice |
| HLTENN037 | Perform clinical assessment and contribute to planning nursing care |
| HLTENN038 | Implement, monitor, and evaluate nursing care |
| HLTENN041 | Apply legal and ethical parameters to nursing practice |
| HLTENN045 | Implement and monitor care of the older person |
| HLTINF006 |
Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control |
| HLTWHS002 | Follow safe work practices for direct client care |
| HLTAID011 | Provide first aid |
Stage 2
| National ID | Unit title |
|---|
| CHCDIV001 | Work with diverse people |
| HLTAAP003 | Analyse and respond to client health information |
| HLTENN035 | Practice nursing within the Australian health care system |
| HLTENN039 | Apply principles of wound management |
| HLTENN040 | Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy (Part A) |
| HLTENN043 | Implement and monitor care for a person with acute health conditions |
| HLTENN044 | Implement and monitor care for a person with chronic health conditions |
| HLTENN047 | Apply nursing practice in the primary health care setting |
Stage 3
| National ID | Unit title |
|---|
| HLTENN040 | Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy (Part B) |
| HLTENN042 | Implement and monitor care for a person with mental health conditions |
| HLTENN057 | Contribute to nursing care of a person with diabetes |
| HLTENN068 | Provide end of life care and a palliative approach in nursing practice |
| BSBPEF402 | Develop personal work priorities |
| CHCPOL003 | Research and apply evidence to practice |
| HLTWHS006 | Manage personal stressors in the work environment |
This qualification prepares you for roles such as:
-
Enrolled nurse
For more information about job and career pathways, visit JobOutlook(opens in a new tab) or Jobs and Skills WA(opens in a new tab) .
Students who successfully complete NR TAFE’s Diploma of Nursing are offered a direct pathway into Bachelor of Nursing, receiving full credit for their enrolled nursing training.
|
|
Tuition fee* |
Resource fee |
Total fee |
|
General |
Fee Free |
$1364.30 |
$1364.30 |
|
Concession |
Fee Free |
$1364.30 |
$1364.30 |
Our estimated fees are based on:
- Full time study in 2023
- A selection of elective units designed to meet local industry demand for skills (different unit selections will attract different fees)
- For more information regarding eligibility and fees, please visit DTWD website
These fees are estimates only and depend on your eligibility for government funding, concession rates, the units you choose to study or seek to be recognised under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Additional resource, material and/or equipment costs may apply. Visit our Fees and Charges page for more information, including on consumer rights.