Uni Experience
Uni: short cut for university. This is a word that Aussies use a lot.
As most of you know, Aussies like to shorten words. This is one of the terms you need to get to know fast. There is a major difference for Aussies between university study and college study. For us Filipinos, since we are used to the American english, they are relatively the same. The word college for us Filipinos pertains to tertiary study while for Aussies it is referring to a non-university school (TAFE, Australian College of Professional Styling). Uni refers to any tertiary study where in you study in a school with a university on its name (University of Queensland, University of Sydney, Macquarie University).
Whenever I watch American movies or series which depict the college experience, I start to wonder what it is truly like in real life. When I came to study in Australia, I thought I would get to live those experiences from the movies. But since I was an overseas qualified nurse, and my course was structured in a way that I did not have to physically sit down at the classroom for the lectures, I did not get the full on "college" experience.
I remember going to the orientation day at the Ipswich campus since it was compulsory. Everyone gathered and listened to the vice chancellor welcoming the students and wishing them well for the coming year. After him, the director of nursing, Vicky, welcomed everyone as well but, she gave a special recognition to the overseas trained nurses in the room and made us (yes, there were 6 of us in that batch) feel we were colleagues instead of students. After the reminders given to everyone, Vicky asked the OEPN (Overseas Educated Practice Nurses) students to stay behind for a few more reminders. She then informed us that we may or may not attend lectures. Since the lectures were recorded, we can access it via the school's link. But, it was compulsory for us to attend PBL (Problem Based Learning-- structure of learning used in UQ, University of Queensland) and clinical placements (called duty hours in the Philippines). The overseas liaison officer then gave us the clinical placement location and we were sent on our way.
The school accredited our Related Learning Experience (RLE) in the Philippines, so we did not have to do return demonstrations except for one topic, which was Manual Handling. If we wanted to attend our classmates' RLE sessions, which was normally scheduled 2 hours earlier than our PBL every Friday, we can. But since we know them already, there was no point in doing so. We did not get penalised for not attending them just like the lectures as stated above. Clinical placements were spaced out every week. Maximum clinical placements during a certain week is 3, minimum of 2 and a total of 25 days for the whole semester. So for example if they rostered you for more than 25 days, you should inform your clinical instructor and then she would then ask you to inform your NUM (Nurse Unit Manager-- Head Nurse Equivalent) about the matter, as the NUM knows how many students should be in the unit at a certain shift. We did need to complete a clinical portfolio, which our buddy nurses, during a certain shift, can sign us off. We were also given the choice to pick which subjects we want to take out of the 3 subjects provided and we were able to enrol online (no hassle whatsoever). Per subject (which was only 2) we needed to submit a 1500 word essay regarding a topic which we can access via the school's link. And for PBL, which was 4 weeks per subject, everyone needed to present a report in front of a class regarding a case given at the end of the session.
Breakdown of requirements for the whole year:
First semester:
1. 2, 1500 word essays +/- 10% of word count, submitted to Turnitin (a tool gauging your percentage of plaigarism) (one per subject, e.g. Nutrition and Metabolic and Immunology)
2. 25 days of clinical placement in the clinical area provided
3. Half of the clinical portfolio signed off by one of your buddy nurses in the clinical placement area
4. Attend all PBL sessions
5. 2 case presentations
6. Final exams
Second semester: same as first semester but with an additional case presentation for the clinical placement subject. This presentation is similar to the case presentation done during PBL sessions.
What is the difference: In the Philippines, since they use the American education system, everything that I learned was entirely based on their curriculum. The only thing added was the Philippine laws regarding nursing and the DOH (Department of Health) topics which was then incorporated in the community nursing part of the study. Everything was covered, even those diseases which are not endemic in the country. Bachelor of Science in Nursing was 4 years of study including Midwifery subjects (Maternal and Child Nursing) and Mental Health Nursing. The midwifery part is incorporated in the BSN degree. So technically, a nurse in the Philippines is also a midwife. To sum up, a well-rounded nurse. Since it was very full on to study nursing in the Philippines, more often than not, you cannot be a working student.
Nursing and Midwifery are two entirely different worlds here in the land down under. Nursing here is 3 years of study. If you want to be a nurse and a midwife, you need a year more of study. UQ is the only university offering the double degree (Nursing and Midwifery), which a person can complete in 3 and half years or 4 year depending if that person will take up summer classes. The hours spent in the classroom, clinical placement and PBL are less than the hours I spent studying in the Philippines. They are all spaced out properly that you can work on the days you are not scheduled to turn up in a classroom or in the nursing unit. Since this was the case, you can work part-time. And your visa allows you to work 20 hours a week during my time and was changed to 40 hours a fortnight (14 days).
So why did I choose the one year degree: The visa stay was longer and it gave me more time to find work sponsorship. I needed sponsorship because I did not meet the Permanent Residency (PR) requirements at the time and needed 5 more points for it to be fulfilled. I got another bachelor's degree out of it. Since I do have an Australian degree, I do need to take another english exam in other countries if ever I need to apply elsewhere. And since I chose this pathway, I did not have to submit documents to AHPRA before studying, which takes time. You need to submit documents to AHPRA before studying if you want to undergo the bridging program (pathway number 1). I only submitted my application for registration when my studies were finished. I was also considered a domestic student, so 2 weeks after the school submitted their graduation list, I already obtained my nursing registration (December, 2012). And technically, the one year study was only 10 months (February-December) and it was cheaper than going for the 2 year study.
Will I recommend this pathway: It all boils down to your current situation. And mostly if you will be able to meet the PR requirements. I suggest you better read up the PR requirements first before deciding on anything.
Whenever I watch American movies or series which depict the college experience, I start to wonder what it is truly like in real life. When I came to study in Australia, I thought I would get to live those experiences from the movies. But since I was an overseas qualified nurse, and my course was structured in a way that I did not have to physically sit down at the classroom for the lectures, I did not get the full on "college" experience.
I remember going to the orientation day at the Ipswich campus since it was compulsory. Everyone gathered and listened to the vice chancellor welcoming the students and wishing them well for the coming year. After him, the director of nursing, Vicky, welcomed everyone as well but, she gave a special recognition to the overseas trained nurses in the room and made us (yes, there were 6 of us in that batch) feel we were colleagues instead of students. After the reminders given to everyone, Vicky asked the OEPN (Overseas Educated Practice Nurses) students to stay behind for a few more reminders. She then informed us that we may or may not attend lectures. Since the lectures were recorded, we can access it via the school's link. But, it was compulsory for us to attend PBL (Problem Based Learning-- structure of learning used in UQ, University of Queensland) and clinical placements (called duty hours in the Philippines). The overseas liaison officer then gave us the clinical placement location and we were sent on our way.
The school accredited our Related Learning Experience (RLE) in the Philippines, so we did not have to do return demonstrations except for one topic, which was Manual Handling. If we wanted to attend our classmates' RLE sessions, which was normally scheduled 2 hours earlier than our PBL every Friday, we can. But since we know them already, there was no point in doing so. We did not get penalised for not attending them just like the lectures as stated above. Clinical placements were spaced out every week. Maximum clinical placements during a certain week is 3, minimum of 2 and a total of 25 days for the whole semester. So for example if they rostered you for more than 25 days, you should inform your clinical instructor and then she would then ask you to inform your NUM (Nurse Unit Manager-- Head Nurse Equivalent) about the matter, as the NUM knows how many students should be in the unit at a certain shift. We did need to complete a clinical portfolio, which our buddy nurses, during a certain shift, can sign us off. We were also given the choice to pick which subjects we want to take out of the 3 subjects provided and we were able to enrol online (no hassle whatsoever). Per subject (which was only 2) we needed to submit a 1500 word essay regarding a topic which we can access via the school's link. And for PBL, which was 4 weeks per subject, everyone needed to present a report in front of a class regarding a case given at the end of the session.
Breakdown of requirements for the whole year:
First semester:
1. 2, 1500 word essays +/- 10% of word count, submitted to Turnitin (a tool gauging your percentage of plaigarism) (one per subject, e.g. Nutrition and Metabolic and Immunology)
2. 25 days of clinical placement in the clinical area provided
3. Half of the clinical portfolio signed off by one of your buddy nurses in the clinical placement area
4. Attend all PBL sessions
5. 2 case presentations
6. Final exams
Second semester: same as first semester but with an additional case presentation for the clinical placement subject. This presentation is similar to the case presentation done during PBL sessions.
What is the difference: In the Philippines, since they use the American education system, everything that I learned was entirely based on their curriculum. The only thing added was the Philippine laws regarding nursing and the DOH (Department of Health) topics which was then incorporated in the community nursing part of the study. Everything was covered, even those diseases which are not endemic in the country. Bachelor of Science in Nursing was 4 years of study including Midwifery subjects (Maternal and Child Nursing) and Mental Health Nursing. The midwifery part is incorporated in the BSN degree. So technically, a nurse in the Philippines is also a midwife. To sum up, a well-rounded nurse. Since it was very full on to study nursing in the Philippines, more often than not, you cannot be a working student.
Nursing and Midwifery are two entirely different worlds here in the land down under. Nursing here is 3 years of study. If you want to be a nurse and a midwife, you need a year more of study. UQ is the only university offering the double degree (Nursing and Midwifery), which a person can complete in 3 and half years or 4 year depending if that person will take up summer classes. The hours spent in the classroom, clinical placement and PBL are less than the hours I spent studying in the Philippines. They are all spaced out properly that you can work on the days you are not scheduled to turn up in a classroom or in the nursing unit. Since this was the case, you can work part-time. And your visa allows you to work 20 hours a week during my time and was changed to 40 hours a fortnight (14 days).
So why did I choose the one year degree: The visa stay was longer and it gave me more time to find work sponsorship. I needed sponsorship because I did not meet the Permanent Residency (PR) requirements at the time and needed 5 more points for it to be fulfilled. I got another bachelor's degree out of it. Since I do have an Australian degree, I do need to take another english exam in other countries if ever I need to apply elsewhere. And since I chose this pathway, I did not have to submit documents to AHPRA before studying, which takes time. You need to submit documents to AHPRA before studying if you want to undergo the bridging program (pathway number 1). I only submitted my application for registration when my studies were finished. I was also considered a domestic student, so 2 weeks after the school submitted their graduation list, I already obtained my nursing registration (December, 2012). And technically, the one year study was only 10 months (February-December) and it was cheaper than going for the 2 year study.
Will I recommend this pathway: It all boils down to your current situation. And mostly if you will be able to meet the PR requirements. I suggest you better read up the PR requirements first before deciding on anything.
Comments
Post a Comment