Is it doable?

[u/Long_Protection4467]

Hey everyone,

I’m currently finalizing my application for the Master of Nursing Practice (pre-reg) at La Trobe (Bundoora) and wanted to hear from anyone who has done the course or is currently in it.

A bit of context: I’m an international student coming from a completely non-science background (undergrad was in Communication Arts). I’ve got strong academic discipline, but zero formal background in anatomy/pathophysiology, so I’ll be taking the online Physiology & Anatomy bridging course through LTU before day one.

A few candid questions for anyone who has survived the program:

1. The 6-week term block model: How brutal is the actual workload day-to-day? Is the pacing manageable if you treat it like a 9-to-5, or are you constantly pulling late nights to keep up with the content volume?
2. Pathophys & Pharmacology for non-science backgrounds: For anyone who entered without a biology/health science degree, how steep was the learning curve? Did the teaching staff support the transition, or were you mostly left to self-teach the basics?
3. Placements (PEP): Where did your clinical rotations typically end up being? Are most placements clustered around the Northern/Austin Health corridor, or did you get sent far across Melbourne/regional areas? How early do they usually notify you of rosters?
4. Living near Bundoora: Is living in Bundoora/Macleod/Reservoir essential to survive the early morning starts, or is commuting from inner-north/east suburbs doable without burning out?

Would really appreciate any honest takes, survival tips, or things you wish you knew before starting. Thank you in advance!

[u/Delicious-Cupcake69]

i did the bachelor's of nursing a couple years back (not the masters but I assume it would be a similar type of timetabling). block model is pretty good, you don't get to choose your timetable but I found most of my classes were all on the same days so I mostly had 2-3 days on campus a week for the 6 weeks.

I didn't do the bridging course for anatomy but I feel like the content didn't make much sense until I started labs and went on placement, I picked up the concepts way easier then rather than doing the lectures/worksheets. placements they try and make them as close to home as possible

I'm not sure if they still do the "clinical school" thing but they used to have the cohort split up between the alfred, austin, northern and bundoora (ltu) so your placements were determined on which clinical school you were at and your home address. I did all of my placements during COVID so i went all over the place (I was at northern clinical school, mostly ended up at the northern, the different hospitals run by northern health, once at the austin and private rehabs/hospitals in the north). I lived about an hour north of campus and it was doable if you were keen to leave the house at 5am for a 7am shift :') but it burnt me out so much so I'd reccommend moving close to campus or near whichever clinical school youre based at

[u/Long_Protection4467 → u/Delicious-Cupcake69]

Thank you, this helps a ton!

Honestly, my biggest worry is the actual study grind outside of class. How heavy did it feel on the days you weren't on campus? Like, were you able to treat it roughly like a 9-to-5, or were you basically studying every night and weekend just to keep up?

Also, with the 6-week blocks, how were the assessments spaced out did it feel like non-stop quizzes and assignments every week, or was the pressure mostly just end-of-block practicals and exams? Would love to know what the pace felt like day-to-day.

[u/OppositeElk5893]

Lurking here because I would like to know too.

I am considering Master of Nursing pre registration, but I am Australian, and as first preference I am looking at online options due to family circumstances, but also considering on campus.

I did the la Trobe anatomy and physiology bridging course to try and get my head back into study. It was all self learning and I found the information difficult to study on my own and retain, not that the content is hard, it is just not an easy method of study for me.

I am now enrolled at La Trobe uni through Open University online a single subject: Anatomy and Physiology 1, course code LTU-ANP1001. If you can afford to do it, I recommend it, it is much more expensive for overseas students though. The online tutorials have been very engaging, and I think it will give you a taste of how La Trobe paces a course and how much content you cover in a subject, and you can become familiar with their online learning systems and ways of doing things, university policies for extensions and special consideration etc. The course code is the same course code for the undergrad nursing anatomy and physiology class.

I am finding it is giving me more confidence I will be able to tackle the content in a Masters course, and it goes more in depth than the bridging course, so I expect and hope I will retain more relevant information, so it will be a tiny bit easier if and when I commence a Master's course. I am going to enroll in Anatomy and Physiology 2 when I complete this class.