In order to make an informed choice about the suitability of a course, you must take into account the essential skills and knowledge in addition to the critical aspects of assessment of a course or qualification.
Please review this informed choices information and think about whether you might experience challenges in meeting the student expectations and inherent requirements.
- If you think you might experience challenges related to a disability or mental health condition, you should discuss your concerns with the Head of Programs, Principal Lecturer, or an Accessibility and Learning Support Officer.
- If you have made an informed choice that this is not the right pathway for you, please consider another qualification.
Please read the following information carefully. The accordions below set out the expectations and inherent requirements of a student training in this qualification:
- Diploma of Nursing
In this industry career pathway, the following areas need to be considered:
Observational skills
- Notice changes in people’s behavior, ability and the environment
- Recognise the deteriorating patient
- Identify safety hazards and risks
- Observe and understand non-verbal cues (e.g. facial expressions, body language)
- Identify signs of verbal distress and/or aggression.
Communication skills
- Communicate effectively with a range of people including technicians, nurses’, patients, relatives, doctors, and anaesthetists
- Use appropriate language and respect when working with people from different cultures
- Listen and follow instructions
- Read and understand written information according to the situation
- Write and record comprehensive patient information and documentation
- Understand and respond to verbal and non-verbal communication
- Communicate and work with others as a team
- Use technology to communicate (e.g. computers, emails, electronic documents).
Technical and motor skills
- Deal with physical demands of manual tasks (e.g. bending, squatting, kneeling, crouching, repetitive movements, carrying, reaching)
- Be on your feet for extended periods of time, both walking and standing
- Grasp, push, turn and manipulate objects
- Use equipment and other technology (e.g. computers, push wheelchairs, manual handling equipment)
- Have sufficient vision to safely perform the required range of skills
- Hear and differentiate sounds that may alert you of a problem (e.g. alarms, calls )
- Deal with body fluids (e.g. urine, faeces, blood).
Cognitive and intellectual skills
- Gather, understand, organise, recall and communicate information
- Use judgment / basic problem solving skills (e.g. to respond to immediate safety risks)
- Understand other people’s perspectives/opinions and respect their choices
- Understand and use maths effectively (e.g. measurements, calculations, 24 hr clock)
- Maintain a sufficient level of concentration to complete an activity/task
- Be attentive in interaction with others ( e.g. to identify risks, to identify changes)
- Perform tasks in a safe manner and within reasonable timeframes.
Behavioural and social skills
- Demonstrate patience and willingness to work with a variety of people
- Able to work under pressure
- Demonstrate professional behaviour (e.g. punctuality, maintaining confidentiality and respect personal boundaries)
- Control your emotions and reactions and withhold personal opinions
- Tolerate close proximity with individuals
- Interact with all genders
- Adapt to change
- Take responsibility for own actions – including responsible use of social media
- Comply with legal requirements of industry (e.g. criminal history check)
The Language, Literacy and Numeracy requirements are core skills for all job roles at all levels.
The Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) indicates that the five core skill areas are reading, writing, numeracy, oral communication and learning which we apply in our personal and community; workplace and employment; and education and training.
Some of the core language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) skills for entry into this Industry are:
Learning - legal and ethical guidelines of work, understand human needs, individual differences, service standards, safety policies and procedures.
Reading - reading and understanding client charts, treatment plans, instructions, procedures, manuals, standards, guidelines and work instructions, industry specific terminology and symbols, workplace safety signs.
Writing - complete forms, charts, progress notes, WHS reports, writing and taking messages
Oral communication – communicating with clients, their family and team members. Communicating with clients who have impaired communication. Effective questioning, application of telephone skills and transferring information to team members.
Numeracy - measure fluids, read weights and measurements, read, interpret and document in charts, calculate timeframes, input data, use decimals, fractions, percentages, and formulae, compare, contrast and evaluate
Problem solving – identify and respond to client’s needs, analyse and construct meaning, assess and respond to risk.
Technology - use software to update observation notes and record health information, basic computer skills.
Students are required to have access to a computer and internet*
*NMTAFE students can access computers and WiFi via its libraries at Joondalup and Mt Lawley campuses.
All workers must understand their workplace health and safety obligations and safety requirements under the:
- WA Work Health and Safety Act 2020, which imposes obligations on people at workplaces to ensure workplace health and safety.
- WA Work Health and Safety Regulations 2022 that describes what must be done to prevent or control certain hazards which cause injury, illness or death.
- Codes of Practice, which are designed to give practical advice about ways to achieve standards and manage exposure to risks common to industry.
All workers must be able to participate in Risk Assessments, Incident Reports and Hazard Identification