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Nursing (undergraduate) professional experience placement

My course Student placements Essential pre-placement checks Nursing (undergraduate)

If you're studying an undergraduate nursing degree you are required to participate in professional placements as part of your degree.

Placements may occur at any time of the year and will include shift work (including night shift and public holidays) across a seven-day week roster. It is recommended that you do not book holidays or make travel arrangements until your placement has been confirmed on InPlace. Placements occur in a full-time block format attended over several weeks. Placement topics in the Bachelor of Nursing program range from 2 to 8 weeks in length.

Placements occur in a variety of locations including metropolitan, rural and remote areas. Nursing students will undertake at least one rural placement and could undertake multiple rural placements dependant on availability. You will be required to organise your own travel and accommodation.

Nursing practises are governed by codes of practice, ethics and guidelines, it is important to be familiar with the following - NMBA RN Standards for Practice, NMBA Code of Conduct for Nurses, and International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of Ethics for Nurses.

Nursing placement calendar

Nursing pre-placement compliance checklist

Nursing Student Pre-placement Compliance Process

Pre-requisites for placement

Compliance requirements for placement eligibility

The following table summarises the pre-placement requirements. Deadlines to submit the requirements vary according to topic availability, and are published on the Placement Calendar. Students that are not fully compliant by their deadline will become ineligible for placement.

Activity What you need to do
Form / more information Submit to
Fitness for placement declaration

Declare your fitness for placement by reading and acknowledging the Fitness for Placement statement on InPlace.

Let the University know if you have an access plan.

N/A InPlace
Student consent for placement Read and acknowledge the relevant essential conditions around student consent for placement using the applicable form. (Please note: if you are required to undertake multiple placements during your degree, you may be required to read both student consent documents, check with your WIL Support Team if you are unsure.)

Placements undertaken outside Flinders University - Student Consent for Placement Statement (PDF)

OR

Placements undertaken within Flinders University ONLY - Student Consent for Internal WIL Placement with Flinders University Statement (PDF)

InPlace
Intellectual property
for placement

Watch the student IP declaration, then acknowledge your understanding in InPlace.

Watch the IP counselling video.

Student Intellectual Property Statement (PDF) InPlace
COVID – 19 Vaccination As of 1st November 2021, SA Health, Aged Care and a vast majority of agencies require a full COVID vaccination status.

Please upload proof of vaccination to InPlace

How to get proof of your vaccination

InPlace
Emergency contact
Confirm your emergency contact details are up to date in the Student Information System.   Student System
Activity What you need to do
Form / more information Submit to
DHS Aged Care Sector Related Screening Obtain a clearance from DHS DHS compliance information
InPlace
DHS Working with Children Check
Obtain a clearance from DHS
DHS compliance information InPlace
NDIS Worker Check Obtain a clearance from DHS
DHS compliance information InPlace
Police Check

You will need to provide a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC).

Police Check detailed information
InPlace
Aged care statutory declaration

In order to comply with the requirements of the Aged Care Act (1997) you must complete a Statutory Declaration stating "I have never been convicted of a murder or sexual assault or convicted of, and sentenced to imprisonment for, any other form of assault".

Aged Care Statutory Declaration (PDF) InPlace
SA Tuberculosis Services screening

Complete the online questionnaire and follow any instructions you receive by email from SA TB services. Upload your questionnaire results to InPlace.

IMPORTANT: Some vaccinations can interfere with the blood test that is used to screen for Tuberculosis. For this reason, you should delay any vaccinations until AFTER you have been cleared by SA TB Services, or until you have received your IGRA test results.

Tuberculosis Services clearance information pack (PDF)

SA TB Services student questionnaire

InPlace
Immunisation Compliance Certificate See a GP to complete and document the necessary immunisation requirements on the Immunisation Compliance Certificate. Immunisation compliance detailed information
InPlace
Annual influenza vaccination Book an annual influenza vaccination from an immunisation provider.
Influenza vaccination certificate (PDF) InPlace
COVID-19 Vaccination Ensure you have received a course of COVID-19 vaccinations and maintain your immunity as per SA/Federal Health Government Department directions. Book an appointment Not applicable InPlace
SA Health Better Placed Deed Poll
Read, understand and sign the SA Health Better Placed Deed Poll
Better Placed Deed Poll information and form InPlace
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Book and attend a practical training session.

Upload evidence of completion.

CPR training compliance information
InPlace
Manual handling

Book and attend a practical training session.

Upload evidence of completion.

Manual handling training compliance information InPlace
Hand hygiene

Undertake the online National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) module:

  • Hand Hygiene Student Health Practitioners Online Learning Module

Upload the certificate.

NHHI - Complete learning module InPlace
Infection control

Undertake the online National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) module:

  • Principles of infection prevention and control module.

Upload the certificate.

NHHI - Complete learning module InPlace
BloodSafe Clinical Transfusion Practice
Complete the Clinical Tranfusion Practice module through BloodSafe eLearning Australia and upload your certificate.
BloodSafe Clinical Transfusion Practice module
InPlace
SA Health Electronic Medical Record (EMR) training Access your FLO page and locate the current year ‘Sunrise EMR & PAS eLearning for Students – Current Year’ module located in your additional tab section. This training is to be completed each calendar year. Sunrise EMR and PAS eLearning for students on FLO InPlace
Face Mask Fit Test Before placement, you will be contacted by the Mask Fit Testing Team with booking details for you to make an appointment. 

* If you have previously had a mask fit test, upload evidence to InPlace, then no further action required.

N95 and D95 Frequently Asked Questions

InPlace

Detailed compliance information

Department of Human Services (DHS) clearances

These clearances are valid for five years from date of issue (unless revoked prior), except Aged Care Sector Clearance, which has an expiry of three years.

There are three main types of screening offered by the DHS the University requires; Aged-Care Sector, Working With Children Check (WWCC), and NDIS Worker Check. Refer to the pre-placement compliance checklist to determine which screenings you require.

Formerly known as Department of Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) clearances, DHS clearances are state-based clearances used to determine suitability for employment within specific care sectors in South Australia.

Note: Working With Children Checks issued prior to 1 July 2019 are known as Child-Related Employment Screenings.

Obtaining DHS clearances

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences require students to obtain DHS Clearances through self-initiation via the DHS website.

Please follow this guide for step-by-step directions of how to start your application.

Existing clearances can be renewed up to 6 months prior to expiry. It is recommended that clearances are renewed early to ensure there is no lapse in compliance.

View more information on the DHS website.

What is the difference between DHS clearances and the Police Check?

The Police Check is a printout of all disclosable criminal convictions as recorded by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). DHS clearances involve additional probity checks and continuous monitoring. Both are required.

Police Check (NCCHC)
  • Students must supply a valid Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) prior to the commencement of their placement.
  • International students must supply an NCCHC within 3 months of arrival, and prior to placement commencement date, unless otherwise instructed.

Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC)

Valid for three years from date of issue

Commonly referred to as a Police Check, a National Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) is a document that lists all criminal convictions recorded against a person in the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) database. For more information visit the ACIC website.

Police Checks (NCCHCs) can be issued by:

  • State, Territory or Federal Police
  • Private brokers that have been accredited by the ACIC

An acceptable Police Check (NCCHC) must meet the following requirements:

  • Unsupervised Contact within the Health/Aged Care Sector.
  • The following information is provided to assist you complete an application form for your Police Check:
  • Reason for Check – Unsupervised Contact with Vulnerable Groups (if there is a character limit, ensure Unsupervised Contact is recorded at a minimum).
  • Proposed Place of Work – Health/Aged Care Sector
  • Location – Adelaide, South Australia

Please note – if you are completing a Police Check for a Northern Territory placement, please follow the instruction provided by Flinders NT or your discipline specific checklist.  In the absence of this advice, follow the above instructions to complete the application form.

Students are responsible for the cost of obtaining their Police Check (NCCHC).

Students completing placements in South Australia may choose to apply for a Police Check (NCCHC) directly through their local police, or through a commercial broker. If a Police Check (NCCHC) is required urgently (e.g. sooner than 4 – 5 weeks) then it is advisable to apply online through an accredited broker that offers fast turnaround.

Police Check (NCCHC) providers:

  • South Australia Police (SAPOL) - We strongly recommend you use the SAPOL Police Check as this the most accepted document.
  • Third party providers are  https://flinders.checked.com.au and www.cvcheck.com.
  • State clearances are most widely accepted across organisations and interstate, third party provided clearances may not be accepted by host organisations outside of the control of the University.

Please note that Flinders University does not endorse these providers and cannot guarantee their turnaround times.

What happens if there are offences listed on my Police Check?

Students with criminal convictions should to refer to the SA Health Criminal and Relevant History Screening Policy Directive. Students with serious criminal convictions may be precluded from placement. Students with criminal convictions are advised to meet with their course coordinator to discuss their ability to satisfy the requirements of their placement topic.

Will you accept a Teachers Registration Board (TRB) Registration Certificate?

No. The Teachers Registration Board (TRB) undertakes a Police Check (Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check) as part of the registration process, however, no outcomes are listed on the registration certificate. You are required to obtain a separate Police Check (NCCHC).

How can I obtain a replacement Police Check?

Replacement Police Checks (NCCHCs) can sometimes be obtained by contacting the organisation that issued the original certificate. In many cases, students who have lost their Police Check (NCCHC) will need to apply for a new one.

Immunisation and vaccinations

Valid indefinitely.

The Immunisation Compliance Certificate sets out the immunisation requirements for students and identifies acceptable evidence of immunity for each disease. The Immunisation Compliance Certificate must be completed by an immunisation provider, this can include General Practitioners (GPs) or Registered Nurses (RNs).

Students are responsible for:

  • Understanding the immunisation requirements.
  • Ensuring the immunisation provider completes the Immunisation Compliance Certificate correctly.
  • Ensuring the immunisation provider provides the student with evidence of immunity, including vaccination records and blood test results (serology).

Completing the Immunisation Compliance Certificate may require several appointments with an immunisation provider. The schedule of appointments will vary depending upon previous vaccination history and the availability of medical records. A typical appointment schedule may include:

  • First appointment
    • Review vaccination history
    • Request blood test to determine immunity
  • Follow-up appointments
    • Administer vaccinations according to schedule
    • Blood test to determine immunity post-vaccination (required for Hepatitis B).

Who can complete the Immunisation Compliance Certificate?

The Immunisation Compliance Certificate must be completed by an immunisation provider in Australia. This can include General Practitioners (GPs) and Registered Nurses (RNs). Students are encouraged to utilise the Flinders University Health, Counselling and Disability service.

Can Hepatitis B immunity be confirmed by vaccination record?

No. Immunity to Hepatitis B must be confirmed by blood test. For students undergoing a course of vaccinations, the blood test is to be completed 4-6 weeks after the final (3rd) dose of the vaccine.

I have been vaccinated against Poliomyelitis but do not have a record of this. What can I do? 

If a student is confident of their previous vaccination against Poliomyelitis, the Poliomyelitis Statutory Declaration (PDF) can be completed and will be accepted as evidence of immunity. Students that are unsure of their vaccination history should complete a course of vaccinations.

What happens if I can’t be fully vaccinated/immunised?

There are several reasons why a student may not be able to fulfil the immunisation requirements:

  • Hepatitis B carrier: In cases where serology confirms Hepatitis B infection, students must provide evidence of this. Students that carry the Hepatitis B infection can attend placement but will be limited in the types of care settings in which they can work.
  • Hepatitis B non-responder: In cases where post-vaccination serology does not confirm immunity to Hepatitis B, a booster dose may be given followed by another blood test. If immunity is still not confirmed, students may provide documentation from their medical practitioner, and will be considered as having met the immunisation requirements.
  • Medical contraindication: Students with a medical contraindication to vaccination should follow the advice of their doctor. Once the Immunisation Compliance Certificate is completed to the extent possible, and a letter from the doctor is provided, students will be considered as having met the immunisation requirements.

Students who cannot be fully vaccinated/immunised for the above reasons will be required to advise the WIL Support Team as soon as possible to discuss strategies for ensuring the safety of themselves and others while on placement.

Students who refuse to be screened or vaccinated, or who refuse to provide this information to the University, are not considered as having met the immunisation requirements and will be refused a placement on this basis. Vaccination refusal will impact a student’s ability to complete their course; students that refuse vaccination are advised to meet with their course coordinator. Not applicable to Social Work students unless they are going to SA Health Placements.

Do I need to provide evidence of flu vaccination?

Students are required to obtain an annual flu vaccination, and evidence of this may be required by your placement venue. Due to the seasonal availability of the flu vaccine, students are required to be vaccinated with the current calendar year vaccine, when it is available, usually March/April.  Upload evidence on InPlace.  Evidence of receiving the influenza vaccination can be recorded on the ‘influenza vaccination certificate’ link here or similar certificate utilised by the immunisation provider. 

Immunisation Compliance Certificate

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training

Valid for one year from date of issue.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training is completed annually. Students are responsible for organising their training through an external provider.

Acceptable training can include:

  • courses accredited to the HLTAID009 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation standard OR
  • Basic Life Support courses completed through SA Health or endorsed by the Australian College of Nursing OR
  • workplace CPR training that includes a practical component.

Acceptable evidence of training can include:

  • a certificate of completion issued by the training provider
  • a letter from an employer stating the date of completion of training
  • a printout from an employer’s training register showing the date of completion of training.

Course providers may include:

  • IntelliLearn
  • St John Ambulance
  • First Aid Pro
  • Red Cross Australia
  • First Aid Training Adelaide CBD

Find additional accredited training providers by searching for HLTAID009 courses near your location.

Manual handling training information

Manual handling training is conducted annually to ensure that students are aware of safe procedures when moving patients and equipment. Students are responsible for organising their training through an external provider.

Acceptable training can include:

  • courses accredited to the HLTWHS005 Conduct Manual Tasks Safely standard OR
  • manual handling / manual tasks courses completed through SA Health or endorsed by the Australian College of Nursing OR
  • workplace manual handling training that includes a practical component.

Acceptable evidence of training can include:

  • a certificate of completion issued by the training provider
  • a letter from an employer stating the date of completion of training
  • a printout from an employer’s training register showing the date of completion of training.

Course providers may include:

  • Adelaide Training and Employment Centre (ATEC)
  • Australian Workplace Training
  • Enable College
  • First Aid Pro
  • IntelliLearn
  • SMP Network
  • Nursing Australia
  • Healthcare Australia

Find additional accredited training providers by searching for HLTWHS005 courses near your location.

Preparing for placement

How to prepare for your placement (videos)

Preparation for your placement experience

Video: Why is WIL important

Video: Pre-placement compliance checks

Video: Real world experience

Video: Placement advice

Video: Preparation and advice

Video: Building your employability

Uniform

Nursing and midwifery students are required to comply with the following standard of dress to attend all placement and clinical laboratory workshops. These standards align with occupational health and safety requirements and safe handling recommendations.

  • Dress in the specified uniform (as outlined below).
  • Clearly display your student ID card at all times.
    • If lanyards are permitted by the placement venue, lanyards must comply with occupational health and safety requirements of that venue.
  • Wear hair secured above the shoulders; ponytails should not hang below or touch shoulders, hair should be firmly secured with plain bands and clips. Beards should be neatly trimmed or fixed as close as possible to the skin with clips.
  • Remove bracelets, wristwatches, dangling earrings, necklaces and rings (ONLY exceptions - simple unadorned religious bands eg plain wedding ring or Kara bracelet which must be secured (taped) as high up the arm as possible). Bands/bracelets containing stones are not permitted.
  • Remove all nail polish (including clear).
  • Remove acrylic fingernails and nails should be trimmed and clean.
  • Remove all facial piercings - eyebrow, lip, nose and ear rings. A small single stud, one per ear lobe is acceptable.
  • Wear a freshly laundered uniform, and clean shoes each day.
  • Shower and attend to personal hygiene before attending the laboratory or placement.
  • Complete uniform, may be worn while travelling to and from campus/placement, if desired.
  • The uniform and ID badge MUST NOT be worn in social settings such as hotels, restaurants and cafes.
    • Lost or broken ID cards, must be replaced, at a small cost to the student.

The nursing uniform consists of:

  • A blue shirt with the College of Nursing and Health Sciences emblem.
  • Navy or black trousers or tailored shorts or culottes with front and back tabard or tailored skirt - no jeans, denim or tracksuit pants may be worn.
  • Black or blue, enclosed, sturdy, low heeled, non-slip shoe that protects the foot.
  • A watch with a sweep second hand. Wristwatches are not permitted.

Dress code for religious requirements:

  • Long-sleeved, cotton navy or black t-shirt may be worn under the College of Nursing and Health Sciences shirt. However, sleeves must be tight enough so when pushed up to the elbows, the sleeves do not roll down. Students will be required to roll the sleeves up when performing clinical procedures and to maintain asepsis in all areas.
  • Head wear: plain navy or black head covering/hijab tightly fitted with the face fully visible.

Students who do not adhere to the above policy may be asked to leave the workshop / placement and their attendance marked as absent.

Purchasing uniforms

Valerie Travers
193 Angas St, Adelaide
Phone: (08) 8223 5375
Buy online: Valerie Travers website

Clinical badge

Wearing a student name badge whilst on placement is part of accountability and professional practice.

Clinical badges can only be obtained once you have a student ID card. How to obtain a student ID card.

Collecting in person from Central Library

  1. Complete the online form to order and pay at: unicard.com.au/flindersplacementbadge. The cost is $4.40 if collecting in person. Payment is not available at the office and is only available via the online form.
  2. Visit the Unicard office level 1 Central library, with student card. Placement cards/badges will be printed while the student waits.
  3. Cards/badges will not be issued if a student card is not presented.

Mailed out

  1. Check your address is current in the student system before trying to order.
  2. Complete the online form to order and pay at: unicard.com.au/flindersplacementbadge. The cost is $10 if mailed out. Payment is not available at the office and is only available via the online form.
  3. Cards/badges will be processed and mailed out via unregistered Australian Post within 2 working days. 
On-campus pre-clinical meetings

It is important to attend your topic's on-campus pre-clinical meeting prior to your placement, to:

  • meet students going to the same venue
  • find out about expectations for placement; attendance requirements, activities and assessments
  • ask questions about placement
  • organise shared transport with colleagues going to the same venue
  • meet your placement educator (facilitator).

Riverland students - your pre-clinical meeting will be held on the Riverland campus.

You will have registered into your pre-clinical meeting during topic registration. It will be available to view in your student timetable.

SA Health clinical placement requirements for healthcare students

You are required to read and understand the SA Health Clinical Placement Requirements for Healthcare Students (PDF)

Fitness for professional practice

If you have an existing condition or develop an illness or disability that may impede your ‘fitness for professional practice’, you must have the Flinders University Fitness for Professional Practice form (PDF) completed by a medical practitioner.

This form needs to be submitted to the placement education coordinator as soon as possible (for existing conditions, at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester).

During placement

Attendance

Venue orientation

All venues will provide a compulsory orientation for students prior to or on the first day of placement. Some venues require that students attend an on-site orientation in person, others provide an online package prior to placement, and some venues will require both.

On your first day of placement you will:

  • produce your current compulsory pre-placement compliance documents
  • meet the venue staff
  • be shown around the venue
  • be advised of any specific requirements for the venue.

If you do not attend or complete your allocated placement venue orientation, you will not have met the venue compliance criteria and your placement educator (facilitator) will send you home; you will not be able to complete this placement.

Rosters and shifts

As part of your professional responsibility, you are required to ensure that you:

  • have completed or attended a placement venue orientation
  • know where to arrive and meet on day 1
  • know your shift times
  • attend all rostered shifts
  • attend for the entire allocated shift
  • are well rested before each shift. Failure to be rested places yourself or others at risk and is considered unprofessional practice, as you are unable to meet your professional obligations and thus standards of practice. For example, it is not acceptable to:
    • go from a paid shift to a placement shift or vice versa
    • work all night on an assignment and then go to an early shift.

Arriving at shifts

It is your responsibility to arrive at your venue at least ten minutes before the shift begins. This will ensure you arrive in a timely manner and be prepared to engage in a full handover of your patients or clients, ask required questions and assist the previous shift to complete activities before leaving.

Missed placement hours or shifts

Any hours missed during your placement must be ‘made up’ as you need to attend for the allocated duration. Missed placement hours may mean that you:

  • cannot complete the topic requirements for placement
  • may not meet the course graduation requirements
  • may not meet the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) minimum requirements for registration.

Contact your placement educator (facilitator) as soon as possible to discuss strategies for making up missed hours. With limited placement opportunities available, it is not always possible to negotiate make-up shifts or an extension to your placement.

Paid employment

If you are a nursing student, you may not:

  • count paid employment hours in a health care venue towards your placements hours
  • undertake a placement in your place of employment (due to conflicting expectations around roles).

If you work in a care facility that also provides student placements, you are requested to advise the placement team.

Elite athletes

If you are an elite athlete, you need to advise topic coordinators and the placement team of your status as soon as this is confirmed. This will enable appropriate placement arrangements can be accommodated. The University’s rule for Elite Athlete status provides further details, including the need to renew applications annually.

Australian Defence Force personnel

If you are a member of the Australian Defence Forces, and expect to be deployed or required for compulsory training exercises during a placement period, please advise your topic coordinator and the placement team as soon as details are known. Wherever possible, alternative arrangements will be made for your placement.

Withdrawing from placement

If you decide to withdraw from your placement either before or soon after it commences you need to email your placement team advising that you intend to withdraw from the topic - in some instances your placement can then be reallocated to another student.

View further information about while you're on placement

Medication management guidelines

Nursing students are required to administer medications during their placements and to adhere to the following guidelines to ensure patient/client safety and compliance with national regulations and legislation.

View the guidelines for medication management

Problems and concerns

This section provides guidance for finding solutions for issues that may arise during a placement, and suggestions about appropriate people to contact.

Issues sometimes arise on placement that you may not be able to resolve by yourself. Who to contact and potential solutions are covered below. Keep in mind that you are required to maintain professional behaviour and communication at all times, especially with those at the placement venue.

The placement communication framework (available below) provides information about who to contact when you have a question about your placement.

First point of contact

When an issue arises at the venue where you are doing your professional experience placement, the first person to contact is always your PEP facilitator.

Your PEP facilitator is there to act as your advocate and to help resolve any matters of concern.

If the matter cannot be resolved with the assistance of your PEP facilitator:

  • Make sure you have all relevant issues documented (for example, keep a full record of dates, times, what happened, any correspondence such as emails, and similar).
  • Arrange to meet with your topic coordinator to discuss your concerns.

If you have done this and the problem is still not fixed - what to do next:

  • Make an appointment to speak with your course coordinator.
  • If the matter if still not resolved arrange to meet with the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning).

Where appropriate and as far as is possible, your anonymity will be preserved.

Remember that you have free access to the University Health, Counselling and Disability Services.

Are you experiencing bullying or harassment?

Flinders University is committed to ensuring that students can participate in workplaces that are free from bullying, harassment and discrimination, and where people are respected and diversity is embraced.

The College complies with the Flinders University principles outlined in No bullying at Flinders.

If you feel that you are being, or have been, bullied or harassed at a placement venue, report this immediately to your Placement Educator/facilitator and/or your Topic Coordinator.

Also, seek support and assistance as soon as possible from the University Student Equal Opportunity Adviser, who provides assistance to resolve complaints that arise from harassment or bullying, under the University’s Equal Opportunity Policy (PDF).

Are you having problems meeting the NMBA standards for practice and/or the learning objectives for your Professional Experience Placement?

The knowledge, clinical skills and attitudes required for your development as a competent registered nurse or midwife are specified in each topic's learning outcomes. These learning outcomes are listed in the topic descriptor on the PEP website and are available on topic FLO sites.

During your Professional Experience Placement (PEP) you may find some of the learning objectives more difficult to achieve than others - this is a normal part of learning. You can discuss these issues with your PEP facilitator if you are having difficulty in achieving any of the topic learning outcomes. They will assist you in developing learning strategies to achieve the expected outcomes.

As a nursing student, as well as meeting the learning outcomes for your topic, you are working towards meeting the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Registered Nurse standards for practice (2016). As such it is expected that you understand each of these standards and subclauses.

You are encouraged to discuss how you believe you are meeting the NMBA standards and/or the topic learning outcomes throughout your PEP with your PEP Facilitator. Students who require or are identified to require further support to achieve these may be offered a Professional Learning Plan (PLP) by the Placement Educator (facilitator) or Topic Coordinator. Further information about Professional Learning Plans can be found below.

What is breach of conduct?

A breach of conduct is when situations arise where there are serious deficits in the way a student conducts themselves or behaves while on placement, for example when a student:

  • behave in an unprofessional manner or
  • does tasks outside their scope of practice
  • engages in unsafe professional practice

When a breach of conduct occurs, the student will be referred to the topic coordinator who will review whether they can continue activity within the topic, depending on the severity of the breach.

Patients and the public expect to be in a safe environment within a placement venue. If at any time a student demonstrates unsafe practice during a placement, they will be immediately withdrawn from the placement venue. The placement educator (facilitator) will then notify the topic coordinator and course coordinator, in writing, of the event or activity that required the removal of a student from the venue.

Unsafe professional practice include:

  • inadequate knowledge for safe practice
  • inadequate performance of skills, including communication
  • unprofessional behaviour that places patients at risk of physical harm, unreasonable emotional distress or neglect
  • unlawful or unethical behaviour.

If the issue/s that caused the removal of a student from placement can be resolved, and the venue agrees, a student may continue their placement. Negotiation for the support of a Professional Learning Plan may also be considered.

The topic coordinator, in consultation with the placement educator (facilitator) and relevant clinical staff, will determine whether a student may be reinstated.

If a student’s behaviour or practice is such that they would fail the topic, then they will not be reinstated.

Further information about while you're on placement

Placement communication framework

Professional Learning Plan (PLP)

Professional Learning Plans are designed to provide supportive learning strategies for students who have been identified as requiring further support and/or extension, to achieve the required topic learning outcomes within placement timelines.

The purpose of the Professional Learning Plan is to promote student learning by identifying their specific learning needs and providing strategies to promote successful achievement of the topic learning outcomes, whether in the clinical laboratory or Professional Experience Placement (PEP). The use of a Professional Learning Plan is designed to support the student's successful completion of their PEP. A Professional Learning Plan is not an assessable item and cannot be used as such. Students will only be assessed in accordance to the expected topic criteria as indicated on their Professional Experience Placement Record (PEPR).

A Professional Learning Plan may be negotiated with students identified as requiring further development of:

  • knowledge and skills
  • application of theory to practice
  • time management e.g. arriving at shifts late or leaving early
  • professional behaviour e.g. working outside your scope of practice
  • communication e.g. difficulties communicating with patients, staff or the Placement Educator (Facilitator).

A student may be offered a Professional Learning Plan (PLP) at any time during a placement. It is the student's choice to implement this learning strategy, however, students are reminded that a PLP is designed to promote their success during placement.

How is a Professional Learning Plan implemented?

Your placement educator (facilitator) or topic coordinator would meet with you to discuss the areas within your practice, knowledge, etc. that have been identified as requiring development.

A Professional Learning Plan may then be negotiated with you and designed to specify the learning strategies that may help you meet the expected topic learning outcomes, and/or the NMBA RN standards for practice. The area/s for development are identified and together the placement educator (facilitator) and/or topic coordinator and student develop the PLP. The PLP can be continually negotiated and developed.

Students can refuse to be involved in a PLP or withdraw from a PLP without any penalty. Students cannot and will NOT be assessed in relation to the Professional Learning Plan.

Rural placements

Nursing students will undertake at least one rural placement and could undertake multiple rural placements dependant on availability during their course. A rural venue is defined by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard Remoteness Areas 2-5.

Rural placements will provide unique opportunities and challenges that aid in developing your personal independence and professional skills. Keep in mind that they will require you to be adaptable, flexible, resourceful, able to tolerate periods of solitude, and able to complete academic work independently if necessary.

When rural and remote placements become available, the placement unit will:

  • contact you via email to nominate your preferred rural placement. Note: this is a first-come first-served system.
  • randomly allocate remaining available placements to other eligible students.

Rural placement student checklist

Financial assistance

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences understands that students can struggle financially with the costs of living away from home while undertaking placement. There are resources available to help:

  • Reimbursement Policy – students can recover some of the costs of travel and accommodation after their placement by completing the Student Placement Reimbursement form (PDF).
  • FUSA – FUSA’s Financial Advocacy service can assist with all things financial
  • Scholarships – Students are encouraged to check the Scholarships at Flinders page and apply for any scholarship for which they are eligible.
Flinders University Rural & Remote Health SA (FURRHSA)

Flinders University Rural & Remote Health SA (FURRHSA) facilitates high quality multidisciplinary health education and research in our State's regional areas.

We have a strong national and international reputation for providing community-engaged inter-professional training for medical, nursing and allied health students. This includes the MD Rural Stream (MDRS) program and multidisciplinary rural clinical placements.

Through this practice, we bring new and exciting opportunities to actively engage and work with rural communities.

Find out more about FURRHSA

Flinders NT placements

The Northern Territory offers unique placement experiences that pose both challenges and rewards for healthcare students. Placement sites vary from remote clinics and practices to large tertiary hospitals, and from isolated desert communities to the multi-cultural centres of Darwin and Alice Springs.

We encourage and support students to embrace the learning opportunities, become involved in the local communities and make a positive difference to the health of our population.

Find out more about Flinders NT placements

Reimbursement policy

Student Reimbursement Policy for SA rural, remote and interstate placements (16 January 2023)

This policy is for College of Nursing and Health Sciences students undertaking a rural or remote South Australian or any interstate placement.

Students will be eligible for reimbursement following each completed placement in line with this policy.

Reimbursement claims are processed at the completion of placement. Reimbursement claims must be submitted by the 15 January the following year for reimbursement of placement expenses the previous calendar year.

Students living in a rural or interstate location while completing their course qualify for reimbursement when they undertake placement in a metropolitan location.

Accommodation

Accommodation expenses will be reimbursed to a maximum of $150 per week for the duration of the placement period.

Students must provide evidence for payment of accommodation, a receipt is preferred where possible, bank statement or signed letter from landlord can also be provided as evidence. Bonds and security deposits for accommodation, paid by students, are not covered by this policy and will not be reimbursed.

Travel

Travel will be reimbursed to a maximum of $500 for travel expenses to and from the placement venue, at the commencement and completion of the placement based on the receipts provided (such as flights, bus, taxi fare).  Students will not be reimbursed for travel while on placement returning to their residential address (e.g. at the end of a shift or on weekends during placement).

Students travelling within SA to rural and remote locations by a private vehicle will receive a predetermined amount to cover fuel expenses.  Students will not be required to submit receipts. The total amount students will receive is provided on the Personal Travel Reimbursement - SA Rural Locations (PDF).

Exemptions:

If the placement is in the Northern Territory, students will be entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses to a maximum of $750.

If the placement is a project-based placement requiring the student to travel several times from metropolitan Adelaide to a rural venue, the student will be entitled to 2 return trips to a maximum refund of $500. To be eligible the student must provide supporting documentation in writing from their topic coordinator indicating this activity is essential.

If a student is required to travel to more than one rural location during the placement period and the placement provider requires them to travel between the locations at their own expense the student will be eligible for reimbursement of travel to a maximum of $500 (this will include travel to and from placement location on first and last day of placement).  

Students in this scenario will keep a log of the kilometres travelled, dates and destinations and submit this as evidence when seeking reimbursement.  Travel will be reimbursed based on fuel at $1.80 per litre, with the average fuel consumption 11.1 L/100 km (ABS Survey of Motor Vehicle Use, Australia 2020).

Assessment

All accommodation and travel reimbursements will be subjected to the following criteria;

  • Rural and remote placements in South Australia must be within ASGS Remoteness Areas RA2 – RA5 outlined on the Doctor Connect website. Mt Barker will be excluded from this policy for both accommodation and travel reimbursement.
  • Interstate placements, including metro locations, are included when; the placement is approved and/or required by the college (the college via the WIL placement team will identify if a placement satisfies this test prior to confirmation).
  • Interstate placements, including metro locations, are not included when you choose to go to an interstate location where there is a suitable South Australian placement available to you as defined by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences WIL placement team. In these circumstances the students can still do this placement, but reimbursement will not be provided.
  • All placements will be confirmed by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences WIL placement team.
  • Scholarships received by the student for any placement will be taken into consideration when calculating the reimbursement. Student reimbursements from this policy will not exceed the total expenditure the student incurred for travel and accommodation. 

Example:

Accommodation [$1,500] + Travel [$600] – Scholarship [$500] = $1,600 (Reimbursement)

Reimbursement process

Students are to submit reimbursement claims as per the following process:

  1. At the completion of placement, fill out the Student Placement Reimbursement form (PDF) detailing expenses incurred while undertaking your placement.
  2. Scan the form with receipts/invoices of expenses and email to cnhs.placements@flinders.edu.au with your student ID number and “Placement Reimbursement Claim Request” in the subject heading. Ensure your scanned document is clearly legible.
  3. Payments are made into your nominated account within approximately 4 weeks of submitting your student placement reimbursement form.

 You must ensure you keep your accommodation and travel expense receipts/invoices.

For more information please contact cnhs.placements@flinders.edu.au.

Rural pre-clinical meetings

Rural pre-clinical meetings are held regularly to support your preparation for a rural placement, discuss issues or concerns and meet other students going to the same venue and region. You will be invited to these meetings via email from the placement unit, and it is strongly recommended to attend these meetings.

The Rural Placement Student Checklist will assist you with planning for your rural experience.

Travel and accommodation

During placement, you are required to cover the costs of your travel, accommodation and meals. You are eligible for financial assistance and reimbursement as detailed above.

Travel to many rural centres is available through private bus companies, including Stateliner and Yorke Peninsula Coaches.

Accommodation may be offered at a subsidised rate. When you are allocated to a rural placement, your details are forwarded to the Flinders Rural & Remote Health SA team who will contact you regarding the available accommodation options.

Contact your WIL placement team

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Location: Level 1, North Wing, Sturt campus
Phone: 8201 7500
Email: cnhs.placements@flinders.edu.au

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Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042

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Last Updated: 07 Mar 2023
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