TAFE Queensland now offering Bachelor’s Degrees for aspiring nurses

For the first time ever, TAFE Queensland is offering Bachelor of Nursing – a university equivalent qualification.

Jobs Queensland predicts that employment opportunities across the state for Registered Nurses (RNs) are expected to increase by 14.5 per cent – more than 10,000 new jobs – by 2026.

Karen Dickinson, General Manager of TAFE Queensland on the Gold Coast, said it is a pivotal moment for the state’s largest and most trusted vocational education and training provider.

“Our Bachelor of Nursing will provide more higher education pathways than ever before for aspiring RN’s and offer a seamless career pathway for eligible Diploma of Nursing graduates,” said Dickinson.

“The majority of TAFE Queensland nursing graduates are already working in industry as ENs, so the flexible delivery of the degree will enable them to continue to earn while they learn,” she said.

Eligible Diploma of Nursing graduates will receive one year of credit, allowing them to directly enter the second year of the degree at South Bank in Brisbane or Southport on the Gold Coast while working as an Enrolled Nurse (EN).

Twenty-five-year-old, Jade Anderson is one of the first students accepted into the program and said she is excited to see where the Bachelor will take her.

“I have built a solid career foundation by completing the Diploma of Nursing at TAFE Queensland and have a job as an EN at Gold Coast University Hospital where I will work while I complete the bachelor degree,” said Jade.

“I’m a big believer in going through a diploma first, having a really comprehensive understanding, getting a job as an EN and then going onto further study to become an RN.”

Designed by experienced nurses, TAFE Queensland’s Bachelor of Nursing focuses on delivering future-focused, hands-on, and community-centred learning experiences.

TAFE Queensland’s Director of Faculty (Health and Nursing) on the Gold Coast, Deb Blow, said the curriculum is tailored to equip students with the skills and knowledge required for a successful career as a RN.

“A Bachelor of Nursing serves as the foundational requirement to practice as a RN in Australia, however our Bachelor goes the extra mile in nurturing well-rounded, empathetic healthcare professionals equipped to make a real difference in the lives of patients and their communities,” Blow said

“Through our diploma to degree pathway, we’re fostering an environment where students can seamlessly continue their educational journey within TAFE Queensland – a trusted and familiar setting where they receive the support they need to pursue their nursing ambitions.

“The Bachelor will be offered flexibly, allowing students to study online and at the state-of-the-art clinical labs at the South Bank campus in Brisbane and the Southport campus on the Gold Coast,” she said.

TAFE Queensland’s Bachelor of Nursing is accredited by both the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council. It is also approved and registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

For more information about TAFE Queensland’s nursing programs visit tafeqld.edu.au.

Ritchelle Drilon

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Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.

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