Clinical placement
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Important information

Submitting all required state compliance documents is an essential part of the application process for students who wish to be accepted into a course. Failing to submit all necessary documentation can delay or even prevent a student’s acceptance into the course, as it may indicate that the student is not able to meet the requirements necessary to succeed in the program. Therefore, it is crucial for students to ensure that they have submitted all necessary documents well in advance of any deadlines, to increase their chances of being accepted into the course.

In some cases, students who submit incomplete or missing state compliance documents may receive a conditional offer letter from the institution. This letter will outline the documentation that is still required before a final offer letter can be issued. It is important for students to take this letter seriously and to submit the missing evidence promptly to secure their place in the course. Failure to submit the necessary documentation by the specified deadline will mean that the student will be unable to enroll. Therefore, it is vital for students to stay organised and keep track of all the required documentation to ensure a smooth and successful application process.

While ACN will make every effort to secure you a clinical placement as close as possible to the home or work address that you have provided us, you may be required to travel. Students may not decline or request a change to a clinical placement allocation unless there are urgent and exceptional reasons for doing so. Urgent and exceptional reasons may include highly extenuating medical, compassionate or special circumstances which are outside of the control of the student and where there was no opportunity for advanced preparation or notification.

Clinical placements occur during a Monday – Friday working week. Shift times vary and are facility dependent, you will be advised of these details. Please ensure you keep your contact details current as these are the details we use to arrange your placement and to contact you. If we are unable to contact you then you risk missing important information and being unable to meet your course requirements.

ACN is unable to offer clinical placements for nurses wishing to update clinical skills or meet regulatory requirements such as conditions on registration. ACN will organise, coordinate and arrange all clinical placements. Clinical placements take significant time to arrange and due to health facility requirements must be organised by ACN. This means that no student is to approach a facility to negotiate or arrange their clinical placements.

Clinical compliance

Legal checks

 

Immunisation evidence

Students are requested to visit the ACT Health website for more information in preparing for placement within ACT.

Mandatory vaccines

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination

  • COVID-19 digital certificate which shows evidence of 3x COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Or immunisation history statement which lists COVID-19 vaccinations and all other vaccines.

Evidence of immunisations and serology for the following:

  • DTPA
  • Hepatitis B
  • MMR
  • Varicella
  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Influenza

No later than two weeks before the start of their placement, students are to have completed:

  • Mandatory e-learning modules on your HRIMS Learning account. Please visit ACT Health for list of modules.
  • National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHH) Student Health Practitioner Module.
  • Student Acknowledgement form.

 

Mask Fit Test

All students attending clinical placement must undergo a mask fit-test and provide evidence of completion (Respiratory fit-test card or report) upon application. The fit test card/report must be valid for the clinical placement period.

 

Other requirements

  • Acknowledgement form: The form must be completed annually through HRIMS learning.
  • ACN student card.
  • Canberra Health Service ID and access (proximity) card.

All students must clearly display ACT Health student identification and always introduce themselves as a student during placement. Please visit ACT Health website for more information on how to obtain student card.

Legal checks

 

Immunisation evidence

Students are requested to visit the NSW Health website for more information in preparing for placement within NSW.

Mandatory vaccines

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination

  • COVID-19 digital certificate which shows evidence of 2x COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Or immunisation history statement which lists COVID-19 vaccinations and all other vaccines.

Evidence of immunisations and serology for the following:

  • Hepatitis B
  • MMR
  • Tuberculosis (IgRA)
  • Varicella
  • DTPA
  • Influenza (yearly)

Students are required to stay up to date with mandatory vaccines for student placements.

 

Mask Fit Test

All students attending clinical placement must undergo a mask fit-test and provide evidence of completion (Respiratory fit-test card or report) upon application. The fit test card/report must be valid for the clinical placement period. See Respirator fit testing algorithm – Clinical Excellence Commission (nsw.gov.au) for further information.

 

Other requirements

NSW Health Forms: Students are required to submit all relevant required forms with application.

If your having problems with completing the below new digital forms, please refer below.

Follow the instructions on how to download & save

  • open the hyperlink to each form
  • download and save both forms as PDFs to the computer
  • open the form
  • complete the forms electronically and save
  • to sign – go into Tools to create a signature
  • after signature has been created and entered the form must be saved again
  • If having trouble with the electronic signature, the alternative is to print, sign, scan and save as a PDF

Legal checks

 

Immunisation evidence

Students are requested to visit the NT Health website for more information in preparing for placement within NT.

Mandatory vaccines

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination

  • COVID-19 digital certificate which shows evidence of 3x COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Or immunisation history statement which lists COVID-19 vaccinations and all other vaccines.

Evidence of immunisations and serology for the following:

  • Polio
  • DTPA Vaccine
  • Hepatitis B
  • Measles/Mumps & Rubella
  • Varicella Zoster (Chickenpox)
  • Influenza (yearly)
  • Hepatitis A*
  • Tuberculosis (IgRA)

 

Mask Fit Test

All students attending clinical placement must undergo a mask fit-test and provide evidence of completion (Respiratory fit-test card or report) upon application. The fit test card/report must be valid for the clinical placement period.

 

Other requirements

Legal checks

 

Immunisation evidence and infection prevention

Students are requested to visit the QLD Health website for more information in preparing for placement within QLD.

Recommendations:
As of 25 September 2023 Queensland Health and Queensland Ambulance Service no longer mandate COVID-19 vaccination for employees, prospective employees, contractors, agency workers, students, and volunteers. Vaccination is proven to reduce hospitalisation and severe illness caused by COVID-19. Queensland Health continues to recommend all who are vaccinated and follow the Australian Technical Advisory group on Immunisation (ATAGI) COVID-19 advice. The most recent ATAGI advice can be found here: Clinical recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

Evidence of immunisations and serology for the following:

  • MMR
  • Varicella
  • Pertussis
  • Hepatitis B

Information about dose schedules and evidence requirements for these vaccinations can be found at the following links:

Tuberculosis risk assessment
Before commencing a clinical placement in a Queensland Health facility, students must complete a TB risk assessment questionnaire, in cooperation with their education provider’s placement coordinator.

Forms required once placement booked:

  • Student Orientation Checklist: A primary document used to record pre-placement orientation and checks.
  • Student Deed Poll: The Student Deed Poll confirms the contractual relationship between you (as a student) and the Hospital and Health Service/the Department.
  • Mandatory iLearn Online Modules: Please visit iLearn and register as a student to complete the iLearn modules. Before commencing a clinical placement, you are required to undertake orientation about the environment you are entering, your practice and interactions with patients/clients, and your safety. Some of this orientation is a requirement of legislation, and others are required by guideline or policy. Required orientation can be found in the Queensland Health Human Resources Policy Mandatory Training G6 (QH-POL-183) policy. Completion of your required orientation should be recorded on your Student Orientation Checklist.

You will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the training. You must retain this and provide it to your education provider and/or Queensland Health supervisor, as requested.

 

Mask Fit Test

All students attending clinical placement must undergo a mask fit-test and provide evidence of completion (Respiratory fit-test card or report) upon application. The fit test card/report must be valid for the clinical placement period.

 

Further readings

Legal checks

 

Immunisation evidence

Students are requested to visit the SA Health website for more information in preparing for your placement within SA.

Mandatory vaccines

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination

  • COVID-19 digital certificate which shows evidence of 3x COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Or immunisation history statement which lists COVID-19 vaccinations and all other vaccines.

Evidence of immunisations and serology for the following:

  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis A*
  • Influenza (yearly)
  • Measles/Mumps & Rubella
  • Pertussis (diphtheria, tetanus)
  • Polio
  • Varicella
  • Tuberculosis (IgRA)

 

Mask Fit Test

All students attending clinical placement must undergo a mask fit-test and provide evidence of completion (Respiratory fit-test card or report) upon application. The fit test card/report must be valid for the clinical placement period.

 

Other requirements

  • Clinical Placement Deed Poll – The SA Health Clinical Placement Deed Poll needs to be signed and witnessed by a person: 18 years of age or above, know the person whose signature they are witnessing (over period of 12 months), Be of sound mind and not be under the influence of drugs / alcohol.
  • Student ID Card
  • ACN Clinical Placement disclosure form.

Legal checks

 

Immunisation evidence

Mandatory Vaccines

Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination

  • COVID-19 digital certificate which shows evidence of 3x COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Or immunisation history statement which lists COVID-19 vaccinations and all other vaccines.

Evidence of immunisations and serology for the following:

  • Hepatitis B
  • Measles, Mumps & Rubella
  • Tuberculosis (IgRA)
  • Varicella
  • DTPA Vaccine
  • Influenza (yearly)

 

Mask Fit Test

All students attending clinical placement must undergo a mask fit-test and provide evidence of completion (Respiratory fit-test card or report) upon application. The fit test card/report must be valid for the clinical placement period.

 

Other requirements

Legal checks

 

Immunisation evidence

Mandatory Vaccines

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination

  • COVID-19 digital certificate which shows evidence of 3x COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Or immunisation history statement which lists COVID-19 vaccinations and all other vaccines.

Evidence of immunisations and serology for the following:

  • Hepatitis B
  • Measles, Mumps & Rubella
  • Influenza (yearly)
  • Hepatitis A*
  • Tuberculosis (IgRA)
  • Varicella
  • DTPA Vaccine

 

Mask Fit Test

All students attending clinical placement must undergo a mask fit-test and provide evidence of completion (Respiratory fit-test card or report) upon application. The fit test card/report must be valid for the clinical placement period.

 

Other requirements

Legal checks

 

Immunisation evidence

Mandatory vaccines

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination

  • COVID-19 digital certificate which shows evidence of 3x COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Or immunisation history statement which lists COVID-19 vaccinations and all other vaccines.

Evidence of immunisations and serology for the following:

  • Hepatitis B
  • Measles, Mumps & Rubella
  • Influenza (yearly)
  • Tuberculosis (IgRA)
  • Varicella
  • DTPA Vaccine

 

Mask Fit Test

All students attending clinical placement must undergo a mask fit-test and provide evidence of completion (Respiratory fit-test card or report) upon application. The fit test card/report must be valid for the clinical placement period.

 

Other requirements

 

Western Australian students completing the Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health Nursing

Students from both the Metropolitan and Rural and Remote areas of Western Australia will need to complete a Pre-clinical Skills Workshop at Curtin University as a pre-requisite prior to undertaking clinical placement in that state. If students can provide evidence that they have already had training and are deemed competent in clinical skills pertaining to Physical Assessment; Developmental Assessment; and Growth Assessment of Children/Adolescents, this may be accepted in place of the pre-skills workshop. This evidence has to be presented to Curtin University’s Clinical Placement team for assessment.

More information about the clinical skills workshop can be found by following this link here.
N.B. You can enroll into our course before completing this workshop but please be aware that clinical placement may be delayed if this pre-requisite has not been completed.

Overseas clinical placement requirements

Students residing offshore are responsible for arranging their own clinical placement in an appropriate clinical setting in their country of origin.
Students must ensure placements arranged meet the compulsory clinical placement hours required for their unit of study.
Once arranged, details of the placement, including the facility/ward/supervisor contact information, placement dates and hours must be sent to the course coordinator for approval prior to placement commencement.

 

Stomal therapy – Additional clinical placement requirements

Offshore students enrolling in the Principles of Stoma Care unit of study must also ensure their primary preceptor is a member of the Australian Association of Stomal Therapy Nurses (AASTN).

Details of their preceptor/s, including email and contact numbers must be sent to the course coordinator for checking prior to placement commencement.

 

Unit of study requirements for units with clinical placement

Students undertaking a clinical placement offshore must complete all required hours for each clinical placement, to successfully complete a unit of study with a clinical component.

Courses

Unit of Study / ProgramCo-ordinatorClinical Placement Specialist
Graduate Certificate in Dermatology NursingJamie-May Newman
jamie-may.newman@can.edu.au
Sophie Chard
clinicalplacement@acn.edu.au
(02) 9745 7599
Child Development in the Family Context (018)Trish Lowe
patricia.lowe@acn.edu.au
Family and Child Health (040)Trish Lowe
patricia.lowe@acn.edu.au
Principles of Stoma Care (044)Elizabeth Moran
elizabeth.moran@acn.edu.au
Clinical Issues in Audiometry Nursing (242)Linlin Ho
linlin.ho@acn.edu.au

N.B Clinical placement staff are not part of the academic staff and therefore if you have questions about your assessments or course content, please ask your tutor or the course co-coordinator.

Additional resources

Uniform standards

Students are required to follow uniform standards whilst on their placement:

  • Black or navy trousers/pants/skirt (skirt must be knee length and allow for movement)
  • White short sleeved collared shirt
  • Black or navy closed in shoes with covered heel, heel no higher than 3cm. Cros and/or clogs are not accepted.

Policy and Procedure (E.1.3a)

Please review the Student Admission and Progression Procedure – Graduate Certificates