Program Overview

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Diploma of Nursing

Advance your career in nursing with this high-level course that will qualify you to seek registration as an Enrolled Nurse.

Course Overview

Take your career in nursing to the next level with this advanced qualification. This course is the essential minimum requirement to register as an enrolled nurse. The health sector is growing in Australia with the Graduate Outcomes Survey reporting four out of five nursing graduates gain employment within three months of graduation.

This course will give you the advanced skills to perform clinical assessments, contribute to nursing care of people with complex needs, administer and monitor medications and IV therapy, research and apply evidence to practice. Our highly-experienced industry professionals will guide you every step of the way to ensure your transition into the health sector is a success.

Successful completion of this course will qualify you to seek registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Upon successful registration you may find work as an Enrolled Nurse within a diverse range of healthcare settings.

What Can I Do?

• Enrolled Nurse

Course Outcome:

HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing

Nursing Partnership Programs

Study Nursing in class or online with TAFE Queensland and our hospital partner St Vincent’s Health Australia. Learn more.

Study Nursing Online

TAFE Queensland offers Australia’s only nursing course specifically designed for online study. Enjoy the flexibility of studying the theory components online at a time and place that suits you. Your practical skills training will be undertaken at a campus location designated by your enrolment.

What You Will Study

The successful achievement of this qualification requires you to complete all core and 5 elective units from the list below. You will also be required to successfully complete a minimum of 400 hours of vocational placement in an approved setting.

Core Units

• UNIT CODE: CHCDIV001
  • UNIT NAME: Work with diverse people
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work respectfully with people from diverse social and cultural groups and situations, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
• UNIT CODE: CHCDIV002
  • UNIT NAME: Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: The unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety issues in the workplace, model cultural safety in own work practice, and develop strategies to enhance cultural safety.
• UNIT CODE: CHCPRP003
  • UNIT NAME: Reflect on and improve own professional practice
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to evaluate and enhance own practice through a process of reflection and ongoing professional development.
• UNIT CODE: HLTAAP002
  • UNIT NAME: Confirm physical health status
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to obtain and interpret information about client health status and to check a client's physical health. It requires a detailed knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
• UNIT CODE: HLTAAP003
  • UNIT NAME: Analyse and respond to client health information
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to analyse client health information and then to plan appropriate health services within scope of own role. It requires an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN035
  • UNIT NAME: Practise nursing within the Australian health care system
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to practise as a nursing professional within the Australian health care system, providing health care across the lifespan of people in health and community care services and environments.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN036
  • UNIT NAME: Apply communication skills in nursing practice
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to communicate effectively with people, families and carers, and with other health care professionals, in health care settings.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN037
  • UNIT NAME: Perform clinical assessment and contribute to planning nursing care
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit of competency describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required, within the scope of practice, to perform preliminary and ongoing physical health assessments of all body systems, gathering data that contributes to an individualised health plan of care.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN038
  • UNIT NAME: Implement, monitor and evaluate nursing care
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to implement nursing care as outlined in a person's nursing care plan, evaluate outcomes of care provided, record and report progress, and respond to emergency situations.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN039
  • UNIT NAME: Apply principles of wound management
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to apply contemporary wound management principles to the care of persons with various types of wounds.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN040
  • UNIT NAME: Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to administer and monitor medicine and intravenous (IV) therapy including calculating dosage requirements, reading and applying written instructions from an authorised prescriber, assessing the person for medicine effectiveness and side effects, and responding to an allergic pharmacological reaction.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN041
  • UNIT NAME: Apply legal and ethical parameters to nursing practice
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to work within legal and ethical parameters in professional nursing practice, including supporting rights and meeting duty of care requirements.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN042
  • UNIT NAME: Implement and monitor care for a person with mental health conditions
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to contribute to the nursing care and treatment of a person with a mental health condition.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN043
  • UNIT NAME: Implement and monitor care for a person with acute health conditions
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to meet the assessed health care needs of people with acute health conditions.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN044
  • UNIT NAME: Implement and monitor care for a person with chronic health conditions
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to meet the assessed health care needs of people with chronic health conditions.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN045
  • UNIT NAME: Implement and monitor care of the older person
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to perform nursing interventions to support the social and emotional wellbeing and nursing care needs of the older person in care.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN047
  • UNIT NAME: Apply nursing practice in the primary health care setting
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to work in a primary health care environment including community-based, educational, occupational and informal settings, and in general practice.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN068
  • UNIT NAME: Provide end of life care and a palliative approach in nursing practice
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to provide a person-centred approach to palliative and end of life care in primary health care, hospitals, hospices, home and community care, and long-term care facilities.
• UNIT CODE: HLTINF006
  • UNIT NAME: Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to apply basic infection prevention and control principles in work settings including implementing standard and transmission-based precautions and responding to risks.
• UNIT CODE: HLTWHS002
  • UNIT NAME: Follow safe work practices for direct client care
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required for a worker to participate in safe work practices to ensure their own health and safety, and that of others in work environments that involve caring directly for clients. It has a focus on maintaining safety of the worker, the people being supported and other community members.

Elective Units

• UNIT CODE: BSBPEF402
  • UNIT NAME: Develop personal work priorities
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to plan and prioritise own work tasks. It also addresses the skills and knowledge to monitor and obtain feedback on personal work performance.
• UNIT CODE: BSBTWK201
  • UNIT NAME: Work effectively with others
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work cooperatively with others and deal effectively with issues, problems and conflict.
• UNIT CODE: CHCPOL003
  • UNIT NAME: Research and apply evidence to practice
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish the information need, gather information and critically analyse the information for relevance to own work.
• UNIT CODE: HLTAID011
  • UNIT NAME: Provide First Aid
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide a first aid response to a casualty in line with first aid guidelines determined by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and other Australian national peak clinical bodies. The unit applies to all persons who may be required to provide a first aid response in a range of situations, including community and workplace settings.
• UNIT CODE: HLTENN057
  • UNIT NAME: Contribute to the nursing care of a person with diabetes
  • UNIT DESCRIPTION: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to provide nursing care to a person with diabetes including assessing needs, planning and implementing nursing interventions, evaluating outcomes, and educating the person on the condition and available resources.

Ways to Study

• On campus
• Online
• International

Study Locations

• Greater Brisbane
• Gold Coast
• Sunshine Coast
• Darling Downs and South West
• Wide Bay Burnett
• North Queensland

Campus Locations

• Loganlea
• South Bank
• Caboolture
• Ipswich
• Greenslopes Private Hospital
• Southport
• Sunshine Coast Health Institute
• Toowoomba
• Bundaberg
• Hervey Bay
• Townsville - Pimlico
• Cairns

Online Study

• Online with on campus practical training

Payment Options

• Fee-Free TAFE
• Concession
• Subsidised
• Full fee
• International

Entry Requirements

• To practice safely in Australia, health practitioners, including nurses, must have strong English language skills. This includes being able to communicate effectively with patients and their relatives, collaborate with other health care professionals and keep clear and accurate health records.
• The English language skills registration standard (2025) is one of the five core standards required under National Law. In preparation for registration, and required by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), all new applicants studying the Diploma of Nursing at TAFE Queensland are to demonstrate English language, as well as literacy and numeracy skills prior to enrolment.
• Domestic and International students: As part of your application process for the Diploma of Nursing, you will be required to complete a declaration in the Diploma of Nursing English Language Skills Acknowledgement Form using one of two pathways demonstrating English language competence:
  • Primary language pathway (Section 1 of the acknowledgement form): You must have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six (6) years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country as specified in the NMBA’s English language skills registration standard (2025). At least two years of this education must have been between grades 7 and 12.
  • English language test pathway (Section 2 of the acknowledgement form): Where English is not your primary language, you must provide evidence of a formal English language test result. Students must demonstrate they have achieved the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) minimum requirements as specified in the NMBA’s English language skills registration standard (2025).
• BKSB: Prior to enrolment ALL students will need to complete a Basic Key Skills Builder (bksb) assessment and achieve a competency of at least Exit Level 3 (working at Level 4) in the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) in both language and numeracy.
• Selection criteria: Please read the Entry Requirements section above. Entry into this course is direct application via Apply Now or via QTAC.

Resources Required

• It is recommended that you have access to a reliable internet connection to access TAFE Queensland's online learning system Connect, and a computer with up-to-date software, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Reader. This equipment and software is available for use at all TAFE Queensland locations.
• You will be provided with a recommended reading list and/or required textbooks during orientation or at the start of each unit. The purchase of these resources may incur additional costs, or you may be able to borrow them from the TAFE Queensland library network.
• You may also be required to purchase uniform items, and a nursing kit. These details will be provided after enrolment or during orientation.

Placement

• You will be required to progress through theoretical and practical simulation training components in each stage of your course. The practical simulation components will be conducted on campus either in residential block periods or as timetabled sessions throughout your stage of study. These residential block periods are multiple full day allocations of 1 week or more with mandatory attendance requirements, for students to complete the necessary practical sessions and assessments to be eligible to continue to clinical placement allocations.
• You will need to successfully undertake a clinical placement in a health care facility or hospital where you will get to use your new skills and knowledge in the real world. You’ll be required to work shifts determined by your placement provider, and these can include early mornings or late nights, any day of the week, including public holidays. Completing placement assessment is compulsory, and you will be expected to manage family and work commitments in order to complete your shifts.
• You will need to successfully complete a minimum of 400 hours of placement to satisfy AHPRA's requirements for your qualification.

Important Information

• Those students who have a medical contraindication may be unable to complete the vocational placement component of their course. This means you may not be able to meet all of the requirements of your course and may not be able to graduate or receive your qualification.
• Registration – during the course of study: Under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, all students enrolled in an approved nursing or midwifery course of study must be registered for the duration of study or until they are no longer enrolled in an approved course of study. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, working in partnership with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) maintains this Student Register and reflects the profile of students as advised by Australia’s education providers. The Student Register is not public and, in relation to students, is limited to recording student health impairment matters or criminal convictions of a serious nature. AHPRA has no role to play in the academic progress or conduct of students which continues to be a core responsibility of educational providers. Providing student details to AHPRA is a condition placed upon TAFE Queensland as your education provider, and therefore it is a condition of entry into this course that you consent to the release of your details accordingly. Further information can be found at the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website.
• Registration – upon completion of study: To register as an Enrolled Nurse through APHRA after graduation, you must be able to demonstrate the completion of five years full-time equivalent education taught and assessed in English. Applicants for registration who cannot provide this evidence will be required to undertake an IELTS (or equivalent) test. Applicants will require a minimum score of seven (7.0) in each of the four (4) components of listening, reading, writing and speaking. Prior to enrolment all students should visit the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website for further information regarding registration following graduation.

Assessment Methods

• Skill and knowledge assessments are an essential step in progressing through your course. You may be assessed in a number of ways while you are studying at TAFE Queensland, including observation, written assessment, questioning, portfolios, work samples, third-party feedback, and through recognition of prior learning.

University Pathways

• If you want to go on to further study at university, TAFE Queensland has a pathway option to get you there. In many cases, completing one of our diplomas may give you a full year of credit towards a degree with one of our partner universities.

How to Apply

• If you're ready to get started, simply hit the Apply Now button on your preferred course information page and get your application underway online.
• You can apply to study this course through the Queensland Tertiary Admission Centre (QTAC). You will need to submit your application on the QTAC website. It will be assessed, and if you are successful you will receive an offer directly through QTAC. You will need to accept your offer from QTAC before enrolling with TAFE Queensland. Visit the QTAC website for campus locations.
• International students can either apply directly through our TAFE Queensland International Application portal, or through one of our education agents. Our registered agents can assist you with your visa application and guide you through the enrolment process. If you are from this list of countries, you will need to apply through an agent. Learn more.

Course Disclaimer

• All information was accurate at time of publication, however TAFE policies, tuition fees, available subsidies, and course content is subject to change without notice. Course commencement is dependent on sufficient enrolment numbers. Timetable information is subject to change prior to commencement and/or during the duration of your course.