Bachelor of Nursing Informatics CU45
Program at a glance
| Duration: | 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time |
| Mode & Location: | multi-modal, external |
| Courses/Units of Credit: | 48 units of credit |
| Faculty: | Faculty of Informatics & Communication |
| Entry: | QTAC. Applicants must have completed a Bachelor of Nursing degree or hold a current general nurse registration certificate which indicates their authority to practice as a registered nurse. |
| Accreditation: | not applicable |
| Residential School: | not applicable |
| Practicum/Work placement: | not applicable |
| Exit awards: | not applicable |
| Interim awards: | not applicable |
| Contact: | Program Coordinator - 07 4930 9839 or Program Administrator - 07 4930 9681, or email ic-program-ug1@cqu.edu.au |
| International students: | this program is available to international students studying by distance education in their home country |
| CRICOS program codes: | not applicable |
Note: CQU is an academic institutional member of the International Medical Informatics Association (I.M.I.A.)
Program outline
This program has been developed to meet the needs of registered nurses who wish or need to make better use of available computer, information and telecommunication technologies to support their area of practice. The use of these technologies including electronic health records has the potential to improve the efficiency, safety and quality of care. The program provides registered nurses with a sound foundation for contemporary nursing practice and possible further study in the nursing informatics discipline.
The program is available to registered nurses who hold a certificate from a hospital based program in their own country, a diploma or degree in nursing from a college or university. All applicants must hold a current general nurse registration certificate which indicates their authority to practice as a registered nurse in their own country. International students will be expected to meet the requirements regarding English standards which enable them to cope with study of an Australian education program. Registered nurses entering this program are given 2 years of study exemption in recognition of their prior learning. Therefore no further credit transfers will be given.
Career options
depending on the specialisation studied, a graduate may obtain employment in many nursing speciality areas or the health informatics and healthcare software industry
Program structure
To obtain a Bachelor of Nursing Informatics, a student must complete a total of 8 courses as follows:
- two compulsory courses;
- four informatics/communication courses;
- two nursing/health or informatics/communication courses taken from the lists below.
The available selection provides opportunities to apply informatics principles to any of the following: nursing, evidence based practice, health information management, statistics, information systems, multimedia, e-health, IT, systems services, health service management, system design and implementation.
Note: These areas are indicative only. It may be possible to customise a specialisation study area for individuals or a group of students at the discretion of the Program Coordinator).
Compulsory courses
Informatics/Communication courses
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| Introductory Informatics | |
| COIS11011 | Foundations of Business Computing |
| COIT11166 | Systems Analysis and Design |
| COIT12168 | Analysis and Specification |
| COIS13013 | Management Support Systems |
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| Multimedia | |
| MMST11001 | Introduction to Multimedia Systems |
| MMST11002 | Constructing Cyberspace |
| MMST12004 | Multimedia Design |
| MMST12005 | New Media Histories and Practices |
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| STAT11048 | Essential Statistics |
| STAT12032 | Data Analysis |
| STAT12050 | Experimental Design |
| STAT12049 | Total Quality Management & Statistical Process Control |
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| Computer Systems | |
| COIT11133 | Programming A |
| COIT11134 | Programming B |
| COIT13152 | Operating Systems |
| COIT12170 | Data Communication |
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| Management Support Systems | |
| COIT11133 | Programming A |
| COIS12041 | Business Programming |
| COIS12031 | Software Design & Programming |
| COIS13013 | Management Support Systems |
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| Systems Development | |
| COIT11133 | Programming A |
| COIS12041 | Business Programming |
| COIT11166 | Systems Analysis and Design |
| COIT12168 | Analysis and Specification |
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| Computer Networks | |
| COIT11133 | Programming A |
| ENCO11005 | Computer Hardware Fundamentals |
| COIT12170 | Data Communication |
| COIT13147 | Networks |
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| Database Systems | |
| COIT11133 | Programming A |
| COIS12041 | Business Programming |
| COIT11166 | Systems Analysis and Design |
| COIS12036 | Human Computer Interaction |
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| Focus on practical communication skills | |
| COMM11007 | Professional Writing |
| COMM12020 | Communication in the Digital Age |
| COMM12033 | Speech Communication |
| COMM12030 | Desktop Publishing |
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| Focus on theoretical understanding of relevant communication practice | |
| COMM11005 | Introduction to Communication & Culture |
| COMM12020 | Communication in the Digital Age |
| COMM12025 | Organisational Communication |
| COMM12022 | Cultural Technologies |
Nursing/Health/Management courses
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HLTH12027 | Counselling for Health Professionals |
| NURS12097 | Ethical and Legal Issues |
| HMGT12004 | Health Service Provision |
| HLPB12002 | Epidemiology |
| NURS13102 | Introduction to Health Research |
| NURS11113 | Nursing Course Management |
| PHRM10004 | Pharmacology |
| NURS12128 | Drugs in Society |
| NURS12127 | Mental Health Studies |
| HRMT19012 | Performance Management |
| HRMT19013 | Human Resources Development |
| HRMT19020 | Managing Organisational Change |
| NUTR19001 | Nutrition |
| BIOH10006 | Pathophysiology |
| NURS10002 | Clinical Pathology for Health Professionals |
Sample part-time two year program structure for Registered Nurses with little or no computing knowledge and experience:
Year 1 - Autumn
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| COIS11011 | Foundations of Business Computing |
| HLTH12003 | Foundations of Health Information Science |
Year 1 - Winter
Year 2 - Autumn
Year 2 - Winter
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| 2 electives |
Note: Students must check to see when and where a course is offered before enrolling. See the course availability section in this handbook for details.