CDU opinions please...

Hey Nicki,

I'm also studying with CDU, in my 2nd year. I also made the switch to unisa at the beginning of this year, only to make the switch back to CDU! I prefer the content (more is covered) and the flexibility of CDU (studying over summer semester is a great way to fast track your way through the course). Also there are 3 electives you can choose from which i think is a great idea. They'll then *try* to get you a 3rd yr placement in your chosen elective field (e.g. emergency, perioperative, mental health etc). The only issue i have with CDU is that only one unit so far has recorded their lectures for external students to listen to. I personally find it difficult to retain vasts amounts of information, particularly with science units. Externals are also at the disadvantage of not knowing the correct pronounciation of clinical words (although there is a website who can pronounce words you type in which is handy!).

There are a total of 3 CTBs, one for each year. The first one must be done in either Alice springs or Darwin. Depending on the availibility, they sometimes offer the CTBs in other states via satellite. However, with the 2nd yr CTB, they have only given us one choice (Alice Springs) which was surprising.

I'm still waiting for confirmation on my prac which is pretty inconvenient! I've been told that it should be in Jan next year although the request was sent to the venue in Oct and they haven't yet confirmed they will be taking me. I know others who had their pracs confirmed at the time of CTB, and were starting in Nov, so i think it just depends on the state you're in. SA and Vic are said to be the most difficult states to secure pracs in.

The first year prac they will try to get you into an aged care facility as this frees up hospital placements for 2nd & 3rd years.

I think the content is fantastic though, i've learnt so much about myself and others - not just about nursing practice & anatomy. So for me i couldn't imagine studying anywhere else - but like you, my biggest concern is the no guarentees when it comes to placement!

Hi peoples,

Thank you for your replies, very much appreciated. CDU is were i would really like to go but it is a close call with CQU also. CDU have alot more positives going for it at this stage. I am looking at mid-year intake at this stage but that is if i complete the WIST program in time.

The only thing i am clear about is that i want to study nursing but where is the big question, it will be either one of the two but alot depends on were i can do pracs...Anyway thank you all again for your replies and good luck with your studies...

Nicki

hi folks,

this thread was from a while back, but hopefully some of you might still check this out!

ive applied for CDU for 2011. ive just finished my EN course so if i get in will be doing the 2 yr course. can any of you tell me what its like trying to do the course full time as opposed to part time?
from what i can see F/T will be 4 subjects per semester and P/T only 2. ideally id love to just go ahead and do the 4 subjects per semester and get the course done quicker over 2 yrs, but ive also been offered a grad position in a hospital starting in Feb. and i guess im just wary of over-commiting myself in 2011. I'd also like to start a family and ...but thats another story : ) and a bridge that i'll cross when i come to it!

so opinions on F/T vs P/T would be great to hear.

also can anyone tell me how the summer semester works? if you are F/T can you also pick up extra subjects so that you finish early? or does summer semester only really benefit you if you are P/T and able to pick up additional subjects.

any info would be great!

Cynn, im not sure if your asking me those questions or Nikki who made the original post?? but FYI she posted that at the end of 2009.

i havent got a clue what WIST is, but im guessing from other peoples comments that its some kind of preparation to study type of thing??? but its doesnt aply to me so it doesnt really matter that i dont know what it is : )

if you ARE asking me, then basically the answer is that im already a nurse- im an EEN. and because im an EEN, that automatically qualifies me for admission into 2nd year of CDU's course. i have a friend who is studying there part time, and i was interested in other peoples experiences of studying there full time.

Please be aware that they have changed the degree content quite dramatically for the new course. They have gotten rid of most of the specialist electives including (most bizarrely) the remote and tropical medicine electives. Yes that's right. No remote nursing elective at Charles Darwin University?????????

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Don't check this as often as I should. I'm an internal full time student. The full time workload seemed very high to me. Certainly higher than for any of the other students at CDU. Our contact hours were about double that of social work students.

Then there's the placement and oscars in the second semester. All going on while you should still be attending lectures such as A&P. I ended up not studying the nervous system at all due to limited time constraints and other assignments that were due. The only thing that lecturers ever said was suck it up princess.

Personally I couldn't study externally, but thats me. Plenty of other people do it and manage fine.

Good luck :)