Australian College of Nursing
Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Respond to industry requirements for flexible, multifaceted practitioners capable of practising in various cancer care environments and specialist cancer nursing roles.
Course overview
Studying for the Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing gives students the knowledge and skills to coordinate and provide culturally safe, evidence-based cancer care. The Australian College of Nursing aims to enhance students’ professional and ethical understanding to facilitate clinical practice development and improve outcomes for individuals diagnosed with cancer. This course is written by specialist nurses for nurses. A team of highly skilled clinical experts supports students towards attaining their individual learning goals.
Students select from a range of specialty electives that allow further exploration of specific clinical areas of interest related to cancer nursing. They also plan, develop and evaluate their clinical and educational requirements to promote lifelong learning through critical analysis and reflection.
Key facts
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing, a student must fulfil four units of study.
Core units
- Advancing Professional Practice
- Principles of Cancer Care
- Advanced Concepts of Cancer Nursing
Elective
Choose one elective from the following:
- Assessing and Managing Adult Pain
- Breast Cancer Surgical Interventions
- Cellular Therapies
- Foundations of Haematology Nursing
- Principles of Breast Cancer Nursing
- Principles of Palliative Care Nursing
- Therapeutic Communication
- Understanding Data in Health Care
Entry requirements
Admission to graduate certificate courses is based on academic merit and selection. In addition, applicants must satisfy any prerequisites or additional requirements specified for particular courses, including ACN’s general eligibility criteria.
All applicants seeking admission are required to:
- Hold a Bachelor of Nursing or registered nurse equivalent qualification.
- Hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or the equivalent registering authority in your country of origin.
- Meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia English language skills registration standard (nursing and midwifery) – please refer to the AHPRA website to download the standard.
- Have a minimum of one year of postgraduate experience.
- Be currently employed in the clinical area of specialisation.
*For some graduate certificate units of study, individual consideration may be given to applicants who are not registered nurses.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
This course is designed to develop an understanding of cancer nursing with a strong clinical focus. It enables students to:
- Demonstrate a specialist knowledge base within cancer nursing for the provision and coordination of contemporary cancer care.
- Develop specialist clinical practice and advanced clinical decision-making skills in the assessment and management of people living with cancer.
- Analyse the communication skills used to establish effective therapeutic relationships with people diagnosed with cancer, their families and caregivers.
- Examine leadership and professional and educational skills that contribute to a high standard of cancer nursing care and practice development within interprofessional teams.
- Evaluate nursing practice against research and current literature to support the provision of contemporary evidence-based cancer nursing care.
- Demonstrate the ability to reflect on personal and professional values and attitudes in relation to the care of people living with cancer, their families and carers.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Estimated total 2025 member price (10% discount): $9,949.5 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Estimated total 2025 non-member price: $11,055 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Being a part of the ACN community allows nurses to be the best they can be and strengthens the voice of nursing through various invaluable benefits, including 10% off graduate certificates.
Estimated fees are based on four units of study.
A student’s annual fee may vary per:
- The number of units studied.
- Choice of courses.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
