Back to Healthcare

    National code: HLT54121

    Diploma of Nursing

    Ask a question

    OverviewAbout this course

    Launch your career as an enrolled nurse and make a measurable difference to your community. Choose to work across a range of health care settings including acute, aged care, rehabilitation and mental health under the supervision of a registered nurse.

    OutcomesWhat you'll gain

    Learning outcomes

    Through a mixture of theory and practical course work, learn to:

    • Care for a person with complex needs

    • Assess client health and analyse health-related information

    • Understand anatomy and physiology

    • Understand and implement infection control

    • Administer medication

    • Implement, monitor and evaluate nursing care plans

    • Tend and manage wounds in the clinical environment

    • Effectively communicate with patients and colleagues

    • Work within legal and ethical parameters

    Course outcomes

    Gain practical experience and develop specialist skills that give you an advantage in the job market.

    • Real-world experience with 400 hours of clinical work placement to provide insight and experience into different types of nursing

    • Experience in industry-standard clinic rooms

    • Skills to manage your time, productivity and patient care

    • Confidence in interviewing patients and practicing the key principles of nursing practice: assessment planning, implementation and evaluation

    SuitabilityIs this course right for you?

    Entry requirements

    This course requires evidence of previous experience or study before you can enrol

    • Before you begin your application, please use our nursing self-assessment tool to ensure you can meet all entry requirements.

    • AGE: You must at least 18 years old at the commencement of your first Professional Experience Placement (PEP). TAFE NSW will verify your age during the formal application process.

    • ENGLISH LANGUAGE: You must have met the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia's (NMBA) English Language Skills (ELS) registration standard as evidenced by a valid ELS test result OR you must declare that English is your primary language as evidenced by studying for 6 years in Australia with at least 2 of these between Years 7 - 12. This must be evidenced by your school transcripts, or a formal letter from your school.

    • ACADEMIC: Successful completion of your HSC / Year 12 (or equivalent), or a Certificate III qualification (or above) as evidenced by a copy of your transcript or certificate.

    • LANGUAGE LITERACY AND NUMERACY (LLN): Successful completion of an RU Ready / Basic and Key Skills Builder (BKSB) assessment. You must achieve an English language and math result of Exit Level 3 or above. This will be arranged through your TAFE NSW campus. Details will be provided throughout the application process.

    Completion requirements

    During your study you’ll need to provide your teacher with the following evidence:

    • A Working with Children Check (WWCC)

    • Australian National Police Check (NPC)

    • Vaccination and health screenings

    • Anything else your work placement provider needs.

    Entry recommendations

    To be prepared for this course, we recommend that you have:

    • Interpersonal skills

    • The ability to work rotating shifts in your career as a nurse

    • You must have a reasonable level of fitness and flexibility to carry out manual lifting

    • The physical ability to perform two minutes of uninterrupted CPR on adult and infant manikins at floor level, and respond to an emergency where there may be a risk to life.

    TAFE NSW is committed to meeting the learning needs of every community. Meeting these needs can mean there are additional entry requirements at different campus locations. Check your preferred location for further requirements. If you need help preparing for study, contact us to find out how we can support you.

    PathwaysFuture career and study options

    Career pathways

    Our graduates go onto roles like:

    Enrolled Nurse

    Enrolled Nurses provide nursing care to patients in a variety of health, aged care, welfare and community settings under the supervision of Registered Nurses.

    • Full-time share Full-time workers usually work 35 hours or more a week (in all their jobs combined).

      57%

    • Employment size Employment size is the number of workers who do this as their main job.

      6,900 workers

    • Average age This is the average age of all workers in this job.

      45 years

    • Weekly pay Median earnings are shown for full-time, non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, before tax or any amounts that are salary sacrificed. These figures are a guide to earnings only and should not be used to determine a wage rate.

      $1,130

    • Average full-time The average full-time hours that people in this role work each week.

      41 hours

    • Skill level rating Skill level ratings are based on the range and complexity of job roles. In general, the higher the skill level, the more formal education and training, previous experience or on-the-job training needed to be good at the job.

      High

    • Gender share

      88% female

    • Future growth The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business estimates the likely change in number of workers in this role, or industry, over the next 5 years. Future growth is the likely percentage change compared to all other job roles.

      Strong Growth

    Licensing

    This program of study is subject to accreditation by ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council) and approved by the NMBA (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia). You need to be a registered practitioner to apply for jobs in the industry. Completion of an NMBA approved Diploma of Nursing program will make you eligible to apply to the NMBA for registration as an Enrolled Nurse. Visit the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. A graduate application must meet the registration standards for enrolled nurses as outlined by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). NOTE 1: TAFE NSW will only grant credit for HLTENN units completed with a provider accredited by ANMAC, and recognised as an approved program of study by the NMBA in accordance with the Enrolled Nurse Accreditation Standards. Visit AHPRA. NOTE 2: TAFE NSW registers all qualifying students with AHPRA. We must notify AHPRA if a student undertaking clinical training has an impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

    Study pathways

    Take your study further with other courses offered at TAFE NSW:

    Previous study2 Courses

    Begin here to gain experience and confidence in this study area.

    Further study0 Courses

    Advance your skills to take your career to the next level

    The Diploma of Nursing does not have any post-graduate courses.

    Related study5 Courses

    Strengthen your expertise and gain specialist skills to expand your employability.

    Your experience counts

    At TAFE NSW, we recognise your previous study and work experience. You can apply for recognition of prior learning or a credit transfer with any of our courses. If you're successful you'll get your qualification faster.

    UnitsUnits taught in this course

    Courses are made up of a combination of both core and specialty units. In the Diploma of Nursing qualification, you’ll need to successfully complete 25 units of competency, including 20 core and 5 speciality units.

    Please note, not all specialty units are offered at every TAFE NSW location. It is highly recommended that you check with your preferred campus for information about the specialty units offered at that location.

    Core units are central to the job outcomes of a particular industry or occupation. These are the units industry has agreed are essential to be capable and qualified at a particular study level.

    • Work with diverse peopleCHCDIV001

    • Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safetyCHCDIV002

    • Reflect on and improve own professional practiceCHCPRP003

    • Confirm physical health statusHLTAAP002

    • ... 5

    TAFE NSW servicesFacilities and support

    TAFE NSW provides support services across all campus locations and online. Whatever your needs or circumstances, we have the people, resources, counselling and facilities to support you in focusing on your studies.

    • TAFE NSW Disability Support Service

    • TAFE NSW Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) support

    • TAFE NSW Aboriginal Support; Learner support (ABE)

    • TAFE NSW Careers, Counselling and Pathways Service

    • TAFE NSW Libraries

    • Scholarship programs – be supported as you explore your talents and fulfil your potential

    • Read&Write literacy and study support software is available free for all TAFE NSW students to use while studying on campus and at home

    • LinkedIn Learning – an online resource which offers innovative courses and tutorials to improve your personal and professional skills

    • Student associations – get social with our student community

    Info sessionsWant to know more?

    There are a total of 13 information sessions planned for this course. They'll take place at different locations across the state.

    You can select a study option below to see the sessions available. Or you can view all sessions related to Healthcare

    Study optionsFind a location to enrol