Diploma of Nursing
Make an impact in your community!
Launch a successful and in-demand
nursing career in
Australia.
Talk to an Enrollment Advisor
Starts On
May 06, 2024
July 01, 2024
September 02, 2024
November 04, 2024
Course Duration 18 Months
Number of Semesters 3
Course Fee $27,000
* Government Funding Applicable for Eligible Candidates
Course Delivery Blended and Face to Face
Amount of Training 1580 Hours
Organisation delivering the program Institute of Health and Nursing Australia (RTO ID: 21985)
Campuses Melbourne, Sydney & Perth
AQF Level 5
Organisation issuing certification Institute of Health and Nursing Australia (RTO ID: 21985)
The HLT54121 – Diploma of Nursing is a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification. The program complies with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 and the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) Enrolled Nurse Accreditation Standards (ENAS) 2017.
Download BrochureObjectives &
Learning Outcomes
The objective of the program is to prepare highly skilled, competent, confident and critically reflective Enrolled Nurses to provide safe and quality patient care in accordance with professional standards. The Diploma of Nursing is a nationally accredited Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) Level 5 program, and following successful completion of the program, students are eligible to apply for registration as an Enrolled Nurse with NMBA.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Diploma of Nursing program have the opportunity to explore a range of career paths in various environments such as hospitals, mental health facilities, aged care facilities, rehabilitation centres, general practitioner clinics or community healthcare settings.
100,000estimated shortage of nurses by 2025
(Source: Health
Workforce Australia (HWA)).
AUD $61,778 per year,the average salary of an enrolled nurse in
Australia (Source: autalent.com).
Entry Requirements for the Program
There are no prerequisites for entry into this program. IHNA’s admission requirements for the program are as follows:
- Successful completion of year 12 or equivalent or pathway through Certificate III or IV level qualification from the HLT or CHC training package*
- 18 years of age and above at the time of commencement of the program
- • Successful completion of the language, literacy, and numeracy (LLN) test and demonstration of competence level as exit level 3 in the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) in reading and numeracy1
- NMBA specified level of English language skills and
- Basic computer literacy2
1 In case of international students, in numeracy only
2 IHNA has adopted ‘basic computer literacy’ definition that covers the most common usages of a computer, including managing computer files, word processing, using spreadsheets and databases; creating presentations; finding information and communicating using computers; and being aware of social and ethical implications of Internet use, retrieved from http://uis.unesco.org/en/glossary-term/basic-computer-skills on 06 November 2023
*Mature age individuals (22+) who may not have completed year 12 but have significant work experience in the health sector and who meet the LLN requirements may also be considered for enrolment. Each case will be reviewed individually to ascertain the student’s suitability for program requirements
Professional Experience Placement (PEP) requirements
- Valid and current National Police Clearance (NPC) or Australian Federal Police (AFP) Clearance certificate.
- Valid and current immunisations in accordance with state/territory requirements.
- Required Immunisations
- Working with Children Check (WWCC)
- A valid NDIS Worker Screening Check (if applicable)
- Declaration of a disability, condition, or medical treatment (if any) which may require reasonable adjustments
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements are the essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit, while preserving the academic integrity of the institute’s learning, assessment and accreditation processes. Inherent Requirements constitute the capabilities, knowledge and skills that are compulsory to complete the course for all students.
Course Structure
This program is offered full-time for eighteen (18) months, with a total program requirement of 1,580 hours. This program consists of twenty-five (25) units of competency, to be delivered over three (3) semesters. This includes:
- 20 core units
- 5 elective units
Students must complete all 25 units.
Core Units
| 1 | CHCDIV001 | Work with diverse people |
| 2 | CHCDIV002 | Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety |
| 3 | CHCPRP003 | Reflect on and improve own professional practice |
| 4 | HLTAAP002 | Confirm physical health status |
| 5 | HLTAAP003 | Analyse and respond to client health information |
| 6 | HLTENN035 | Practise nursing within the Australian health care system |
| 7 | HLTENN036 | Apply communication skills in nursing practice |
| 8 | HLTENN037 | Perform clinical assessment and contribute to planning nursing care |
| 9 | HLTENN038 | Implement, monitor and evaluate nursing care |
| 10 | HLTENN039 | Apply principles of wound management |
| 11 | HLTENN040 | Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy |
| 12 | HLTENN041 | Apply legal and ethical parameters to nursing practice |
| 13 | HLTENN042 | Implement and monitor care for a person with mental health conditions |
| 14 | HLTENN043 | Implement and monitor care for a person with acute health conditions |
| 15 | HLTENN044 | Implement and monitor care for a person with chronic health conditions |
| 16 | HLTENN045 | Implement and monitor care of the older person |
| 17 | HLTENN047 | Apply nursing practice in the primary health care setting |
| 18 | HLTENN068 | Provide end of life care and a palliative approach in nursing practice |
| 19 | HLTINF006 | Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control |
| 20 | HLTWHS002 | Follow safe work practices for direct client care |
Elective Units
| 1 | BSBLDR414 | Lead team effectiveness |
| 2 | BSBPEF402 | Develop personal work priorities |
| 3 | CHCPOL003 | Research and apply evidence to practice |
| 4 | HLTENN057 | Contribute to nursing care of a person with diabetes |
| 5 | HLTADM008 | Administer and coordinate Telehealth Services |
Mode of Delivery
IHNA has opted two modes of delivery for the program.
Delivery Mode |
Lecture |
Tutorial |
SBT &OSCA |
PEP |
| Face-to-face | On campus | On campus | On campus | PEP venue |
| Blended | Online | Online | On campus | PEP venue |
- Face to Face: Offered at our campuses in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth
- Blended: Online lectures/ tutorials conducted via Zoom
The course will be delivered for 20 hours per week, consisting of lectures, tutorials and support sessions.
The delivery of the program includes a combination of;
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Guest lectures by industry experts, multidisciplinary teams, and specialist nurses
- Simulation based training (SBT)
- Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA)
- Professional Experience Placement (PEP)
The simulation-based training and Objective Structured Clinical Assessment conducted face to face in IHNA nursing laboratory. Mandatory attendance is required for both SBT and OSCA. The student will get a timetable during orientation which includes all the details of the SBT and OSCA schedule.
Students are expected to complete additional study in their own time as a part of self-directed interactive learning which equates to 10 hours of study per week.
Program Assessments
IHNA has engaged in extensive consultation with subject matter experts and external consultants regarding the selection of assessment instruments. A range of assessment methods employed by IHNA ensures that assessments are fair, flexible, valid and reliable while ensuring that IHNA meets the requirements of the relevant Training Package and the rules of evidence. IHNA seeks to incorporate authentic assessments in all units of competency during the study.
Formative Assessments
Formative assessments will be conducted at set points during a unit of competency. Timings of the formative assessments will be communicated to students via LMS and in class by the educator. In the theoretical component the formative assessment may consist of the following:
- Group discussion
- MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)
- Various types of quizzes
- Role plays
- Nursing Skill assessments
Summative Assessment
Students will engage in a variety of summative assessments throughout the course, encompassing theory, Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA), and Professional Experience Placement (PEP). These assessments follow a mandatory and sequential structure, requiring students to progress from theory to OSCA to PEP. The theory assessments comprise examinations, short answer questions, case studies, projects, individual/group presentations and reflective journals. OSCA involves the evaluation of students’ nursing skills within simulated nursing laboratories.
The OSCA will replicate a clinical setting, offering scenarios that Enrolled Nurses (ENs) are likely to face as they assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care.
During this course you will learn and practice how to:
- Basic to advanced nursing skills within the scope of an enrolled nurse
- Administer medicines & intravenous therapy
- Wound management
- Care of the clients with acute, chronic & mental health conditions
- Care of older clients
- Effective communication
Professional Experience Placement (PEP)
The PEP is an essential component of the program. The PEP is designed to provide students with experiential learning opportunities to apply relevant nursing concepts in clinical practice. The program’s PEP components are carried out in Australian health-care facilities. Students are required to complete 400 hours of PEP distributed over three (3) PEP blocks in aged care, subacute and acute facilities.
Please note: Professional Experience Placement fees are included as part of your tuition fee. Travel and accommodation associated with placement is at the cost of the student.
Any student who is required to repeat a Professional Experience Placement will be responsible for the fees associated with the placement.
Program Resources
IHNA ensures that quality resources are accessible for staff and students to deliver programs efficiently and effectively. High quality and up-to-date learning resources enhance the effectiveness of the program by boosting the academic performance of students. IHNA provides comprehensive unit guides and learner guides that assist in directing the students to additional resources to support their learning.
- Prescribed textbooks, library, and additional learning resources
Prescribed textbooks- Koutoukidis, G., Stainton, K., & Hughson, J. (2020). Tabbner’s Nursing Care: Theory and Practice. (8th ed.). Elsevier.
- Tiziani, A. (2021). Havard’s Nursing Guide to Drugs – Mobile Optimised Site: Vol. (11th ed). Elsevier.
- Waugh, A., & Grant, A. (2022). Ross & Wilson. Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness (14th ed). Churchill Livingstone.
Student Support Services
IHNA offers support services to help students adjust to study, achieve their learning goals and make satisfactory progress towards required learning outcomes. IHNA provides both academic and non-academic support to students. All support services are available to students as per the Student Services Support Policy and the Student Services Support Procedure of IHNA.
- Student support services: Students will have access to support services via the LMS. Full details of support services available to students are set out in the Student Handbook and on the IHNA website.
Examples of student support services include, but are not limited to:- Orientation to the program, facilities, resources etc.
- English language support
- Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) support
- Welfare support services
- Counselling support services
- Internal counselling/mentoring service by IHNA staff
- External counselling by Relationship Australia
- IT support (available 24/7) for IT issues such as access, logins, using software and many other matters by telephone, email or live chat
- Opportunities to ask questions in real-time with the chat, voice call and video call functions in LMS/Microsoft Teams
- Library and literature search assistance including orientation webinars
- Assistance with academic writing, referencing and citation styles
- After hours support for students while on PEP
- Career guidance
- Access to Resolution Institute (independent mediator)
- Assistance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Pastoral care services
- Student support tickets system: The student support ticket system operates at campuses and on the national level. This system is available in multiple platforms and ways for students’ convenience in accessing such services.
- LMS: Students can book support sessions through the LMS on academic matters, student wellbeing and safety, mental health and wellbeing, counselling and library support.
- Chatbot: Students can make contact through Rishi the Bot for all support requests. The chatbot is a 24*7 support system, with academic, admin and other support services. Students can also contact their designated educator, student administration officer, course coordinator and/or placement coordinators through this system.
- Student Hub: Students can book support sessions through the Student Hub on academic matters, student wellbeing and safety, mental health and wellbeing, counselling and library support.
- MS Teams: Students can use MS Teams to make contact with relevant staff member with their support requests. Students can also contact their designated educator, student administration officer, course coordinator and/or placement coordinators through MS Teams.
- Student Campus Council (SCC): IHNA has established a Student Campus Council (SCC) in each campus to organise and coordinate local activities and to make their voice heard on relevant matters and concerns. The minutes of each SCC meeting will be forwarded to the Learning and Teaching Committee and Student Representative Council (SRC) which will listen to student voices, receive feedback and translate them into actions for students’ welfare.
Articulation Pathways
Graduates who successfully complete the Diploma of Nursing program may enroll into further vocational education in specialised areas of practice or higher education programs and progress to higher learning opportunities. IHNA has articulation agreements with universities for students to pursue higher education.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer
The program provides students with the opportunity to apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL). Evidence is collected using IHNA’s RPL toolkit in line with the RPL Policy and Procedure. Students may be eligible for RPL for any formal, informal and nonformal learning they have undertaken.
Credit transfer for this program, in line with ASQA directions, will only be awarded if the unit code and name are the same.
FlexibilityAt IHNA, we strive to provide our students with flexible learning opportunities to assist you to balance their personal, work and life needs
Flexible blended classes
Suitable for working students and students living in the regional area who want to study online live theory class and attend simulation blocks each semester at campus.
Flexible blended on-campus classes
Students who want to attend two days of on-campus classes and the rest online supported learning can do so.
Digital library
All of our students benefit from flexible online learning through IHNA’s digital library, which contains thousands of e-books, nursing journals, and articles.
Practice will help you learn better
Access our cutting-edge simulation labs at each campus at your leisure from 8.30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily to learn by doing
Resources and Tools
IHNA also provides the best resources and tools such as recorded lectures and seminars and forums which are available for students to access in their own time.
Learning environmentIHNA makes every effort to provide our students with the best learning opportunities through state of the art learning platforms and experiences
- The ACELMS is a fantastic resource for online learning
- Our teachers all have current clinical experience working in healthcare organisations
- IHNA uses Microsoft Teams to collaborate and communicate more effectively with your teachers and classmate and for students to work with others on a project
- Guest lectures from industry will provide students with first-hand case studies and insights about the work environment
- All our campuses are equipped with a state-of-the-art simulation laboratories
- Access to the most up-to-date technologies, such as virtual simulation using HoloLens.
Where will this take you?
Upon successful registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) as an enrolled nurse you may gain employment in various healthcare facilities, which may include:
- Medical centres
- Training resource centres
- Open employment services
- Other community settings and clients’ homes
- Palliative Care
- Hospitals- private and public
- Day respite centres
- Rehabilitation centres
- Residential group homes
- Aged Care
Funding
This training is delivered with Western Australian Government Funding
Accreditation
Fees Type |
Melbourne |
Perth |
Sydney |
| Funding Concession Fee | Not Applicable | AUD $0.00 ^# | Not Applicable |
| Funding Non-Concession Fee | AUD $11,600.00 *# | AUD $0.00 ^# | Not Applicable |
^This training is delivered with Western Australian and Commonwealth Government Funding.
#The Student tuition fees are indicative only and are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Additional fees may apply such as Student service and resource fees
*This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government Funding.
To know more about your eligibility Click here
To know more about the IHNA Fees & Charges, click here.
To know more about the VET Student Loan, click here.
Attention Students!
We would like to inform you about a recent surge in cyber scams. Your security is of utmost importance to us, and we want to ensure that you stay safe from potential threats.
Scammers have been employing sophisticated tactics to deceive individuals and steal sensitive information. It’s essential to be vigilant and cautious when dealing with online communications and transactions.
For IHNA’s students, it’s good to know that IHNA’s bank account details are not shared through email. Instead, the information is accessible through the secure Student Hub under Student Invoice & Payment. This method ensures that only authorised users with secure login credentials can access and view the information.
Additionally, making payments through the IHNA website provides another secure option for transactions, ensuring that personal and financial details are handled in a safe and protected environment.
For any questions or concerns related to payments or account details, students should reach out to IHNA directly through official contact channels (accounts@ihna.edu.au) to ensure the highest level of security and privacy.
About IHNA
IHNA has been delivering the Diploma of Nursing course for 12 years and we are now pleased to offer the new Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) course.
This 18-month course is available nationally with flexible learning opportunities online or on-campus, 2-week simulation blocks on campus at IHNA’s state-of-the-art and highly advanced nursing labs and clinical placements each semester with leading healthcare providers.
IHNA is approved by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) to deliver the newly released course.
IHNA’s online interactive learning environment brings together online and on-campus classrooms and tutorials incorporating virtual simulation experiences, a library comprising over 1million references and publications and 24/7 student support online.
The Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) prepares you for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia as an Enrolled nurse. An Enrolled Nurse (EN) works under the direct or indirect supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN).
You can learn more about the strong demand and excellent job prospects and pay available for Enrolled Nurses at the Australian Government Job Outlook website.
Industry practical placements — work in the field
Government funding available for eligible students
Simulation exercises that provide hands-on knowledge
Blended mode of delivery — both online and on-campus
Qualified and industry experienced educators
Student Testimonials
- How long will it take to complete this course?
18 months(78 Weeks)
- How many days do I have to attend the online live class (Online -blended)?
4 days/week and 4 Hours/ day (Only for Domestic candidates)
- How many days do I have to attend the Face to Face class (On-campus)?
2.5 days /or 20 hours/week for International and Domestic students.
- Can I do the SBT (Simulation based training) online?
NO, SBT, OSCA (Objective Structured Clinical Assessment) and PEP face to face on campus attendance mandatory and it is on Monday to Friday, 8.30 – 16.30. Minimum 4 weeks leave is required for every semester.
- Is the PEP (Professional Experience Placements) flexible?
No, PEP rosters are set by the placement facility and is aligned with the shifting times of the facility. I.e. 7am to 3pm morning shift and 2 to 10pm for afternoon shift.
- Can I fast track this course?
No
- Can I get an RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) or Credit Transfer?
Yes, student can get Credit Transfer
- Is any pre recorded sessions available?
As a part of structured interactive learning, pre-recorded lectures and learning resources are provided for students’ independent review before class.
- Is it mandatory to attend a full-day class?
Yes, 80% of attendance is mandatory for this course.
- What I will learn in SBT (Simulation based training)?
The student will be trained as assessed nursing skills in a laboratory simulated environment.
- Can I get any support sessions?
Yes, there is one day support session on each week. Apart from that there will be 24*7 online live support from student support team.
- Do you provide job placement after the course?
No, but we will guide students to get placement and registration.
- Can I do PEP at my own workplace?
NO, we will organize the work placement for students. Arrangements are subject to availability.
