Inherent requirements for Bachelor of Nursing

Inherent requirements are the essential components of a program or course that demonstrate the abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the program or course, while preserving the academic integrity of UON’s learning, assessment and accreditation processes. The inherent requirements are the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to complete a program that must be met by all students enrolled in that program.

Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to assist them to meet the  inherent requirements of a program. Reasonable adjustments cannot fundamentally change the nature of an inherent requirement.

In undertaking a Bachelor of Nursing, students will be required to undertake activities which reflect the Australian health care context which may include mixed gender, religious and culturally diverse environments. For further information, contact your Program Convenor.

Successfully completing the Bachelor of Nursing program enables you to apply for registration as a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), which is a partner board of the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Authority (AHPRA).

To support potential and current students' decision making, a series of inherent requirement statements has been developed. These statements specify the program requirements of the undergraduate nursing programs for student admission and progression. The statements are clustered under eight domains consisting of ethical behaviour, behavioural stability, legal, communication, cognition, sensory abilities, strength and mobility and sustainable performance.

How to read the inherent requirements statements:

If you are intending to enrol in the Bachelor of Nursing, you should review these inherent requirement statements and carefully consider whether you can meet these requirements. If you think you may experience challenges for any reason including a disability or chronic health condition, you should discuss your concerns with AccessAbility Service. These staff can work collaboratively with you to determine whether reasonable adjustments can be made to assist you to meet the inherent requirements. Where it is determined that a student cannot meet the inherent requirements of a program even with reasonable adjustments, UON staff can provide guidance regarding other study option

Each inherent requirement is made up of the following five levels:

  • Level 1 - introduction to the inherent requirement
  • Level 2 - description of what the inherent requirement is
  • Level 3 - explanation of why this is an inherent requirement of the program
  • Level 4 - the nature of any adjustments that may be made to allow you to meet the inherent requirement
  • Level 5 - examples of things you must be able to do to show you've met the inherent requirement

There are eight domains of inherent requirements in the Bachelor of Nursing. Some domains have a number of sub-domains.

  1. Ethical Behaviour
  2. Behavioural Stability
  3. Legal
  4. Communication
  5. Knowledge and Cognition
  6. Sensory ability
  7. Strength and mobility
  8. Sustainable performance

Inherent Requirement statements:


1. Ethical Behaviour

Introduction

Nursing is a profession governed by competency standards, codes of ethics, professional conduct and professional boundaries where nurses are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts.

Description

Student demonstrates knowledge of, and engages in ethical behaviour in practice.

Justification

Compliance with the standards, codes, guidelines and policies facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people with whom they engage. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all.

Adjustments

Must ensure the standards, codes, guidelines and policies are not compromised or result in unethical behaviour.

Exemplars

Demonstrating appropriate behaviour with confidential information in classroom and clinical settings;

Demonstrating ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behavior.

Complying with UON Policies including the Student Conduct Rule.

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2. Behavioural Stability

Introduction

Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in this role.

Description

Students demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and clinical environment.

Justification

Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. Nursing students will be exposed to emergency situations and human suffering and will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these events.

Adjustments

Must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and professional settings.

Exemplars

Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback.

Coping with own emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with individuals in the clinical setting.

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3. Legal

Introduction

Nursing practice is mandated by legislation to enable the safe delivery of care.

Description

Student demonstrates knowledge and compliance with Australian Law, professional regulations and scope of practice.

Justification

Knowledge, understanding, and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements are necessary pre-requisites to clinical placements in order to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.

Compliance with professional regulations and laws ensures that students are both responsible and accountable for their practice.

Adjustments

Must be consistent with legal and regulatory requirements.

Exemplars

Complying with legal requirements regarding all aspects of practice.

Complying with the requirement for student registration with AHPRA.

Complying with relevant  child protection and safety legislation.

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4a. Communication (verbal)

Introduction

Effective and efficient verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to enable the safe delivery of care.

Description

Student demonstrates:

  • Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences
  • The ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner.
  • The ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation.
  • Timely and clear feedback and reporting.

Justification

Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships is essential for the safe delivery of care.

Communication may be restricted to verbal because of physical limitations of the individual (e.g. injury, disease or congenital conditions).

Speed and interactivity of communication may be critical for individual safety or treatment.

Timely, accurate and effective delivery of instructions is critical to individual safety, treatment and management.

Adjustments

For impaired verbal communication must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure safe and appropriate care.

Exemplars

Participating in tutorial, simulation and applied clinical discussions.

Responding appropriately to a care request in the clinical environment.

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4b. Communication (non-verbal)

Introduction

Effective non-verbal communication is an essential requirement of this course. Communication must be respectful, clear, empathetic, honest and non-judgmental.

Description

Student demonstrates:

  • The capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues.
  • Consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours.
  • Sensitivity to individual and cultural differences.

Justification

The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building a rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic and professional relationships.

Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes trust in academic and professional relationships.

Being sensitive to individual and/or cultural differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships.

The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is essential for the safe and effective observation of patient symptoms and reactions to facilitate the assessment and treatment of patients.

Adjustments

Must enable the recognition, initiation of or appropriate response to effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner.

Exemplars

Recognising and responding appropriately to non-verbal cues in the clinical environment.

Recognising and responding appropriately to non–verbal cues in classroom situations.

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4c. Communication (Written)

Introduction

Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental nursing responsibility with professional and legal ramifications.

Description

Student demonstrates capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances.

Justification

Construction of written text based assessment tasks to reflect the required academic standards are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter for professional practice.

Accurate written communication, including record-keeping and patient notes, is vital to provide consistent and safe patient care.

Adjustments

Must meet the necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and clinical settings.

Exemplars

Constructing an assessment to academic standards

Constructing a nursing report in a timely manner and that meets professional standards.

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5a.  Knowledge and cognitive skills

Introduction

Consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide safe and competent nursing care.

Description

Student demonstrates:

  • The capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information.
  • The ability to process information relevant to practice.
  • The ability to integrate and implement knowledge in practice.

Justification

Safe and effective delivery of nursing care is based on comprehensive knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately.

Adjustments

Must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded.

Exemplars

Drafting an assessment to academic standards

Drafting a nursing report in a timely manner, that meets professional standards.

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5b. Literacy (language)

Introduction

Competent literacy skills are essential to provide safe and effective delivery of care.

Description

Student demonstrates:

  • The ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages.
  • The ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information.
  • The capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in a scholarly manner.

Justification

The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to ensure safe and effective assessment, treatment and delivery of care.

The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental for safe and effective delivery of nursing care.

Adjustments

Must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information.

Exemplars

Ability to listen to information.

Ability to convey a spoken message accurately.

Ability to paraphrase, summarise and reference in accordance with appropriate academic conventions.

Ability to draft accurate, concise and clear nursing documentation

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5c. Numeracy

Introduction

Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for safe and essential care.

Description

Student demonstrates the ability to interpret and correctly apply data, measurements and numerical criteria.

Justification

Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in nursing to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of nursing care.

Adjustments

Must demonstrate a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and processes appropriately in a timely accurate and effective manner.

Exemplars

Performing accurate drug calculations.

Demonstrating accurate recording on a fluid balance chart.

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6a. Sensory ability (visual)

Introduction

Adequate visual acuity is required to provide safe and effective nursing care.

Description

Student demonstrates sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of skills.

Justification

Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to demonstrate the required range of skills, tasks and assessments to maintain consistent, accurate and safe care of self and others.

Visual observations, examination and assessment are fundamental to safe and effective nursing practice.

Adjustments

Must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of a vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety.

Exemplars

Accurately drawing up medication to administer.

Observing and detecting subtle changes in wounds.

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6b. Sensory ability (auditory)

Introduction

Auditory ability is required to provide safe and effective nursing care.

Description

Student demonstrates sufficient aural function to undertake the required range of skills.

Justification

Sufficient auditory ability is necessary to monitor, assess and manage an individual's health needs consistently and accurately.

Auditory assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective nursing practice.

Adjustments

Must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the hearing loss must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety.

Exemplars

Accurately undertaking a blood pressure measurement by auscultation.

Detecting care request by activation of call bell or calls for help.

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6c. Sensory ability (tactile)

Introduction

Sufficient tactile ability is required to perform competent and safe nursing care.

Description

Student demonstrates adequate tactile function sufficient to undertake the required range of skills and assessments.

Justification

Sufficient tactile ability is necessary to monitor, assess and detect patients' physical characteristics and act on any abnormalities detected to provide thorough nursing care.

Tactile assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective nursing practice.

Adjustments

Must have the capacity to make effective assessments of physical characteristics and abnormalities within safe time frames.

Exemplars

Detecting any changes in circulation observations e.g. temperature and pulse palpation.

Conducting a physical assessment and detecting any anatomical abnormalities.

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7a. Strength and mobility (gross motor skills)

Introduction

Nursing involves physical demands and requires gross motor function.

Description

Student demonstrates the ability to perform gross motor skills to function within scope of practice.

Justification

Sufficient gross motor skills are necessary to perform, coordinate and prioritise care. Tasks that involve gross motor skills include lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, twisting and bending. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.

Adjustments

Should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care.

Exemplars

Maintaining balance while safely mobilising and transferring individuals or resources.

Able to safely retrieve and utilise stock and equipment.

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7b. Strength and mobility (fine motor skills)

Introduction

Nursing is a profession that requires manual dexterity and fine motor skills.

Description

Student demonstrates the ability to use fine motor skills to provide safe effective care.

Justification

Sufficient fine motor skills are necessary to perform, coordinate and prioritise care. Tasks that involve fine motor skills include being able to grasp, press, push, turn, squeeze and manipulate various objects and individuals. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.

Adjustments

Should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care.

Exemplars

Performing an aseptic wound dressing.

Able to prime, accurately insert and set prescribed rate on an infusion device.

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8. Sustainable performance

Introduction

Nursing practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level.

Description

Student demonstrates:

  • Consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time.
  • The ability to perform repetitive activities with a level of concentration that ensures a capacity to focus on the activity until it is completed appropriately.
  • The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period of time.

Justification

Sufficient physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide safe and effective care.

Adjustments

Must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period.

Exemplars

Participating in tutorials, lectures, skills.

Provide consistent care over a negotiated time frame.

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