Study Nursing in Australia

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What is Nursing?

In old age, Nurses are always perceived as a mere sidekick to doctors, just like Robin and Batman. However, this is now a thing of the past! (Bye bye to all these traditional perceptions.) Nurses are no longer considered medical assistants but rather medical professionals who play a very important role in the healthcare industry.

There may be a lot of different versions for Nurses, but the main one would be providing all sorts of care and support to individuals, families, and communities to promote health and wellbeing, prevent illness and injury, and alleviate suffering. To sum up the above, they are basically the glue, holding hands that hold the hands of patients on the road to recovery.

The responsibilities of a Nurse are far more diverse than we can imagine. This ranges from the complex task of making acute treatment decisions to simpler programmes such as providing vaccinations in schools. But what unites every Nurse is the skill and drive that it takes to be a Nurse – providing care and support to those in need.

In Australia, the future of the Nursing profession is super, super promising, given the high demand for healthcare providers due to the ageing population and the increasing prevalence of critical illnesses.

Nurses are to play an increasingly significant role in the healthcare industry and also, our community. This profession is expected to further evolve to meet the changing healthcare needs of the population. The Nursing profession offers a rewarding yet fulfilling career path to those who are interested.

Wanted to know how you can start your journey as a Nurse, particularly in Australia? Read on!

Type of Nursing

To give you a better understanding of different Nursing specialties, we put together a list to help you on that:

Types of Nursing	Specialisation
Nursing Assistant	Monitor vital signs, bathe and dress patients while assisting them with their repositioning and walking
Practitioner Nurse/ Vocational Nurse	Change bandages, monitor blood pressure, collect blood and urine samples, and address patient concerns to Registered Nurses and doctors
Registered Nurse	Assess patients, administer medications and treatments, assist in diagnostic testing, and provide emotional support and health education to patients and their families
Surgical Assistant Registered Nurse	Assist surgeons during procedures and care for patients in every stage of surgery (pre and post)
Home Care Registered Nurse	Prepare equipment, change dressings, administer medication, and monitor conditions for patients at home
Emergency Room Registered Nurse	Perform emergency care methodology such as performing triage upon patient arrival, determine the order of treatment, conducting examinations, recording patient histories, monitor patient progress, and consulting with supervising doctors
Labour and Delivery Nurse	Assist mothers through labour and delivery, perform medical tests on newborn babies, and help parents decide a plan of care to assist in the post-delivery care of both mother and child
Clinical Nurse Specialist	Improve patient care plans by working with social workers, doctors, Nurse specialists, and pharmacists, and occasionally providing bedside care to patients
Nurse Case Manager	Work with patients, medical staff, and insurance providers to find the most effective care plan, monitor progress, evaluate care, and suggest alternative treatments for patients
Nurse Educator	Develop a continuing education programme, facilitate training, provide educational resources to staff and design educational initiatives to improve patient care

For more information on the details provided above, do not hesitate to contact us now!

Skills Required for Nursing

To excel as a Nurse, one need to have the following skills:

1. Communication skills

Effective communication skills are much needed for this role as it involves communicating with patients, their families, doctors, and other healthcare professionals. As a Nurse, you are the bridge between all these parties, and you need to know how to communicate on the same page as the audience and, at the same time, communicate compassionately.

2. Critical Thinking

Nurses must have strong critical thinking skills to quickly assess and analyse complex issues and make the right decisions about patient care. They must be able to think on their feet, keep adapting to changes in patient conditions, and determine the best solutions for their patients.

3. Patient assessment

To offer the best possible care for patients, a Nurse must have a solid understanding of medical procedures and equipment. Nurses need to be knowledgeable about the different medical conditions and treatments, as well as use the right tools during the patient’s recovery process.

4. Empathy

Oftentimes, Nurses will find themselves in a situation where they are bombarded by the negative emotions of the patients or their family members. That said, Nurses need to demonstrate a high level of empathy and be considerate towards them without losing their cool. When one keeps their cool, one can alleviate the situation and calm everyone down.

5. Physical & mental endurance

Nurses often work long shifts, performing strenuous tasks while remaining alert and attentive to patient needs around the clock. This job nature can take a toll on a Nurse’s mental well-being. Hence, Nurses need to maintain a work-life balance to ensure they can provide the best care solution to the patients.

Are you eligible to study Nursing?

Following are the general entry requirements to study Nursing:

Academic Entry	Minimum Score
STPM	9.1
Matriculation	2.6
A-Levels	10
UEC	A2
IB Diploma	29
Australian Matriculation (ATAR)	80

Note: Universities may have different requirements. To learn more, get in touch with us!

Entry Level	Minimum Score
IELTS	Band 7.0
MUET	96
Pearson Test of English	65

Note: Universities may have different English Language requirements. To learn more, get in touch with us!

General Pathway to be a Nurse in Australia

Becoming a Nurse in Australia can be both fulfilling and rewarding. The first few steps to becoming a registered Nurse include completing a Diploma in Nursing then followed by graduating with a Bachelor in Nursing. Meanwhile, in some cases, some universities require you to take a test such as the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT). Reach out to us to find out more about this.

Upon graduation, you have to apply with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Authority (AHPRA) and Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to be a Nurse in Australia. You are also required to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Once these requirements are met, you are now a registered Nurse.

If you plan to migrate, studying Nursing is also very beneficial for migration to Australia. Australia has a huge demand for healthcare professionals due to the ageing population and increasing prevalence of critical illnesses. This demand creates opportunities for skilled and qualified Nurses to migrate and work in Australia.

For more information, Nursing is listed as one of the eligible skilled occupations for migration under the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL) in Australia. If this sounds like what you plan to achieve in the future, you can start by following the above steps.

However, if you plan to return to Malaysia after completing your studies, you need to possess basic qualifications and work experience, as well as be registered with the Malaysian Nursing Board. The minimum qualifications include a diploma in Nursing, post-basic Nursing, or a bachelor of Nursing, along with 2 to 3 years of relevant work experience. In order to practise Nursing in Malaysia, you must obtain a valid Annual Practising Certificate (APC), which must be renewed on an annual basis. Obtaining an APC requires the completion of certain requirements, such as continuing education and passing the relevant exams, in order to ensure that the Nurse is up-to-date with the latest Nursing practices and techniques.

Top Universities to Study Nursing in Australia

1. University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a public research university founded in 1988 that has since become one of the top-ranked universities in the world. UTS offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across a variety of faculties, including business, engineering, law, health, and science. The university is known for its focus on practical, industry-oriented education, with many programmes offering work-based learning opportunities. UTS also has a strong research focus, with world-class research centres in areas such as health, sustainability, and data science.

Programme Offered	Bachelor of Nursing
Duration	3 Years
Intake	February
Indicative Fees (2023)	International Students: AU$128,488